Match Preview
Manchester City will hope to pile pressure on Arsenal in title race as they return from the international break to face Newcastle United, who are looking to get back to winning ways after a recent slump in Premier League fortunes.
City are four points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s clash at St James’ Park. However, with the Gunners’ North London derby with Tottenham taking place on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s men have the chance to cut the gap to a single point.
The visitors have an excellent record against Newcastle, having won 12 Premier League away games against Newcastle, their joint-most victories on the road against one opponent in the competition (also 12 v Everton).
However, they have won just one of their last four games on Tyneside in all competitions, drawing the other two in the league and suffering defeat in the EFL Cup.
Their previous victory in January 2024 required a 90th-minute winner from Oscar Bobb and, following recent poor results on their travels, Newcastle will be desperate to upset the odds in what most will expect to be another compelling encounter.
City’s biggest advantage is undoubtedly the form of Erling Haaland, who already has 19 goals in all competitions for the club this season and recently ended Norway’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign with 16 goals to his name.
A goal in this fixture would see Haaland reach 100 Premier League goals in record time, though Newcastle have traditionally proved a surprisingly difficult opponent for City’s talisman. Haaland has scored just once against Newcastle in his career.
While Newcastle are in an excellent position to progress to the Champions League knockout rounds and are through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup as they seek to defend that trophy, successive 3-1 away defeats to West Ham and Brentford have left them a lowly 14th in the Premier League, just two points above the bottom three.
But Liverpool and Arsenal are the only teams in the Premier League to win at St. James’ Park this season, with both needing dramatic late winners, and Howe is hoping being back at home while elicit a much-improved performance.
He told BBC Newcastle this week: “We’re looking for a big response in this moment, which we’re going to need because we’ve got game after game; our schedule for the next two months is relentless. We can’t allow any sort of negative trend to continue. It’s a really important few weeks for us.
“[Getting a result against City] would be the perfect start to this period. But we know that we’re up against, for me, the best team in the Premier League, consistently for the last five, maybe ten years. They’ve been excellent, so there’s no bigger game for me than Manchester City, in terms of a test.”
“Hopefully that brings out the best in us. We’ll certainly be prepared for the game. We’ve had a long time to reflect on our last performance and hopefully we see a response.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “It’s a very difficult game. They’re the standard-bearers in this division. They’ve changed a lot over the years, as any Pep Guardiola side does. It’s a fresh challenge for us, but one that hopefully we can rise to. Being back at home is important for us.
“I think we rise to the challenge. We have to go into every game with a fresh outlook, but the Brentford game is still in our memory and we need to respond. We have to galvanise ourselves and use those games to come out fighting, and play at our best, with intensity.”
Team news for Newcastle v Manchester City
There is optimism Anthony Gordon will be available after a hip injury kept him out of Newcastle’s loss to Brentford and the England squad for their final World Cup qualifiers.
Nick Pope has passed concussion protocols, though the game comes too soon for long-term absentees Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa (both knee). Both are nearing a return, however.
Joelinton (shin) should be fit to play following an injury that forced him off in the first half against Brentford, but recent poor performances could see him lose his place in the midfield. Will Osula is still having an ankle problem managed.
City’s injury problems are fewer, though midfielder Mateo Kovacic (ankle) is again set to miss out.
Rodri’s fitness continues to be managed by Guardiola and it remains to be seen if he will be available for the trip to St. James’ Park.
Predicted line-ups for Newcastle v Manchester City
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Ramsey; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes.
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland
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