Newcastle started the season well, going four games unbeaten, but suffered their first defeat of the season against Fulham in their most recent game. Manager Eddie Howe admitted after the game that it was their worst performance of the season, although the team is still sixth in the table, just three points behind leaders Man City.
However, the Magpies know they must continue to improve if they are to break into the top flight. Man City will probably be the biggest challenge for Newcastle, having won just one of their last 33 Premier League meetings with the opposition, a 2-1 home win in January 2019 under Rafael Benitez.
On the other hand, Man City are going through a stressful period of fixtures. Just 49 hours after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend, they entered the match against Watford in the third round of the English League Cup. Coach Pep Guardiola had to make 9 changes to the starting lineup.
However, The Citizens still won easily with a score of 2-1 thanks to goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes. Man City are still unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the season. In the Premier League, they have not lost a game since the start of 2024, an unbeaten streak that spans 24 games. Only Chelsea (26) in 2008 have had a longer unbeaten run in the Premier League era in a calendar year.
Man City will be brimming with confidence as their record against Newcastle is better than any other team they have faced in the Premier League, with 31 wins, 12 away wins and 101 goals scored.
Newcastle are unbeaten in 10 games at St James' Park, but their last home defeat was against Man City (2-3 in January 2024). It will be difficult for Newcastle to break the Manchester team's dominance in this return.
Expected lineup:
Newcastle: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Gordon, Isak, Barnes
Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Savinho, Bernardo, Gundogan, Doku; Haaland
