Newcastle vs Man City Preview: Champions Look To Continue Impressive Start
Manchester City will look to continue their charge towards a fifth consecutive Premier League title on Saturday lunchtime when they visit Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
After their dramatic late draw with Arsenal at the Etihad last weekend, Man City look to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign against Newcastle.
Haaland mercurial once again / Getty images
MAN CITY PREVIEW: LATE DRAMA AT THE ETIHAD
Substitute John Stones’ late strike salvaged a point for Man City last weekend, with a fine defensive display from ten-man Arsenal frustrating Pep Guardiola’s men for the majority of the second half.
City’s midweek League Cup encounter with Watford was a little more straightforward, with the Premier League outfit progressing to the round of 16 courtesy of a 2-1 victory, goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes doing the damage.
Man City were dealt a cruel injury blow in their title tussle with Arsenal last week as midfield star Rodri came off injured with a devastating ACL injury. The Spaniard is expected to miss most of the season, leaving Pep Guardiola in need of a new stabilising presence in the middle of the park.
The former Barcelona boss also has worries over Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness. The Belgian made his comeback from a severe injury in this fixture last season, inspiring his side to a dramatic 3-2 success after coming on as a 69th-minute substitute.
Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake remain on the sidelines with plenty of changes expected from the starting XI that beat Watford on Tuesday.
David Blunsden/Action Plus/Shutterstock
NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS: ISAK STILL NURSING TOE INJURY
Despite playing last week, Alexander Isak is still dealing with a toe injury, and having not trained fully this week, is once again a doubt. Anthony Gordon could occupy a central striker role should the Swede miss out.
Matt Target is the latest player to join the absentee list with the the full-back currently suffering from an eczema flare-up.
Manager Eddie Howe remains without central defenders Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, while midfielder Lewis Miley and forward Callum Wilson remain unavailable.
Harvey Barnes has been the Magpies’ standout performer at the start of the season and has scored in three successive league games. He should start on the right wing in an attack featuring Anthony Gordon on the opposite flank
Barnes is in great form / Naomi Baker/GettyImages
NEWCASTLE VS MAN CITY PREDICTION
Although being held at home by a side with ten men is rarely seen as a positive result, the manner of Man City’s late draw with Arsenal last weekend will have felt like a victory in some respects, and come the end of the season that could prove to be a vital point in the title race.
There has also been a fair degree of drama in this fixture over the past couple of seasons, with the last two Premier League meetings at St. James’ Park producing 11 goals in total – a 2-3 win for City last season and a 3-3 draw the previous campaign. Given how below-par Newcastle have been this season though, despite their respectable position in the table, this could be more of a one-sided affair.
With the likes of Erling Haaland in such a rich vein of form, a high-scoring City win could be on the cards.
Credit: 90 Min