Manchester City will look to continue their run towards a fifth successive Premier League title on Saturday lunchtime when they visit Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Cityzens were embroiled in a highly entertaining and controversial meeting with Championship rivals Arsenal last week, eventually breaking through the Gunners’ stern rearguard to salvage a Tie 2-2 despite having the player advantage for most of the match.
Hosts Newcastle, meanwhile, saw their unbeaten start to the league campaign come to a disappointing end with a 3-1 defeat at Fulham last time out. They were due to take part in midweek Carabao Cup action against Wimbledon, but heavy flooding meant the game had to be postponed.
here it is 90 minutes preview of the Gameweek 6 opener on Saturday.
Newcastle vs Man City H2H Record (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Newcastle |
Man City |
|---|---|
|
Fulham 3-1 Newcastle – 21/09/24 |
Man City 2-1 Watford – 24/09/24 |
|
Wolves 1-2 Newcastle – 15/09/24 |
Man City 2-2 Arsenal – 22/09/24 |
|
Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham – 24/09/01 |
Man City 0-0 Inter – 18/09/24 |
|
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle (3-4p) – 28/08/24 |
Man City 2-1 Brentford – 14/09/24 |
|
Bournemouth – Newcastle 1-1 – 25/08/24 |
West Ham 1-3 Man City – 31/08/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Discovery+, Discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate |
|
united states |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO, SiriusXM |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
With their midweek game cancelled, the Newcastle side received a welcome break and should be fresh for what will be a major test of their own hopes for the 2024/25 campaign. They still have their fair share of injury concerns, though.
Manager Eddie Howe remains without centre-backs Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, while midfielder Lewis Miley and striker Callum Wilson remain unavailable.
Harvey Barnes has been the standout performer for the Magpies at the start of the season and has scored in three successive league games. He should start on the right wing in an attack with Anthony Gordon on the opposite side, but Alexander Isak is a major doubt. The Swedish striker has a small fracture in his toe and has not trained all week.
Newcastle predicted line-up against Man City (4-3-3): Pope; Delivery, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Isaac, Gordon.
Man City were dealt a cruel injury blow in their title fight with Arsenal last week as midfield star Rodri was dropped by a knee ligament problem. The Spaniard is expected to miss most of the season, and Pep Guardiola will need a new stabilizing presence in the middle of the park.
The former director of Barcelona also has concerns Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness. The Belgian bounced back from a serious injury in this game 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 sidelineswith many changes expected from the starting XI that beat Watford on Tuesday.
Man City’s predicted line-up against Newcastle (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Guardiol; Kovacic, Stones; Savinho, Gundogan, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
The gauntlet has been thrown city as they look to retain their Premier League title. Can they perform consistently without Rodri, who has so often propelled his team to victory when things have looked bad?
Guardiola has undoubted quality that he can call upon in his compatriot’s absence, with other midfielders such as Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic able to step up.
Newcastle they have lost ten of their last 12 games against City and the defeat at Fulham has not been a good preparation for their clash with the English champions. They can break down City’s defence, but expect the visitors to cement their place at the top of the Premier League table with a win.
