Manchester City go try move close to Premier League leaders Arsenal when dem travel St James’ Park to face Newcastle United on Saturday evening. Na di first time dem meet since February, when City hammer Newcastle 4-0 at Etihad with Omar Marmoush hat-trick.
Match Preview
Newcastle enter di last international break on bad note, lose back-to-back PL matches away to West Ham and Brentford, 3-1 to Brentford despite Harvey Barnes early goal. Last season, dem finish top-five, but this season dem don only win three of 11 league matches (D3 L5), dey 14th, two points above relegation, seven behind fourth-placed Sunderland.
Coach Eddie Howe get full backing, dey look for big response as “relentless” fixtures dey come. Dem no fit allow negative trend continue if dem wan fight higher table.
Newcastle dey strong for St James’ Park, win last five home matches across all competitions, score at least two goals each. But dem don only beat Man City once in last 35 league meetings (D6 L28), Howe never win any of 18 PL games vs City (D2 L16).
Man City start season shakily (two losses in first three PL games), but don show return to best form, win 11 of last 14 games all competitions, six of last eight PL. Last game, City hammer Liverpool 3-0 at home in Guardiola’s 1,000th game as manager. Dem now second, four points behind Arsenal. City get best home record: 15 points from six games (W5 L1), but road form weak: two wins from five (D1 L2), last away loss 1-0 at Aston Villa.
City draw 1-1 at Newcastle last season, but confident this weekend: dem don win 12 PL away matches vs Newcastle, joint-most against any opponent. Dem don score in each of last 33 PL meetings with Newcastle.
Newcastle United Premier League Form
L L W D L L
Newcastle United Form (All Competitions)
L L W D L L
Manchester City Premier League Form
W W L W W D
Manchester City Form (All Competitions)
W W L W W D
Team News
Newcastle defender Dan Burn dey suspended after red card vs Brentford. Summer signings Yoane Wissa (knee) and Will Osula (ankle) no ready. Nick Pope (concussion) and Joelinton (shin) fit play vs City. Anthony Gordon (hip) and Tino Livramento (knee) go be assessed.
Howe fit stick Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman for centre-back, Fabian Schar fit sit bench. Nick Woltemade, wey score three goals in two international games for Germany, go lead line.
Man City midfielder Mateo Kovacic dey long-term out (ankle/heel). Rodri still dey build fitness after hamstring problem. Guardiola fit stick same lineup wey beat Liverpool: Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly full-backs, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol centre-back. Nico Gonzalez fit start again in midfield with captain Bernardo Silva. Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku go support Erling Haaland, wey dey hunt 100th PL goal and 15th of season.
Newcastle United Possible Starting Lineup
Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland
We Say: Newcastle United 1-2 Manchester City
Newcastle strong for St James’ Park and dey impress home, but dem go face hot Man City with deadly striker Haaland, wey dey hunt 100th PL goal. Both teams fit get positive result, but Man City strong record vs Newcastle and recent form dey too much to ignore. Guardiola men get enough to get the win.
