Manchester City turn their attention to their Premier League title quest this Sunday as they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad.
Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester City)
Key Statistics
Manchester City have conceded seven goals in their last five PL home games, more than in the prior 13 combined.
They are unbeaten in their last eight PL games (six wins and two draws).
The hosts have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season 921 goals).
Newcastle United have collected more PL points in 2022 (32) than any other PL team except Liverpool and Manchester City.
Eddie Howe have lost all 11 of his PL managerial H2Hs against City by an aggregate score of 34-5.
Newcastle have never won a PL game at the Etihad Stadium (D2, L14) either.
Head to head
Both sides have met 43 times in the Premier League, with Manchester City winning 27 of the games, while Newcastle have recorded just eight wins against the Cityzens in the Premier League era.
Latest performances in all competitions
Manchester City: L-W-W-W-W
Newcastle United: L-W-W-W-W
Manchester City
After a devastating loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final last Wednesday, Manchester City will look to pick themselves back up and continue their PL title quest when they host Newcastle this Sunday.
The hosts were close to reaching their second UCL final in a row with just a minute of normal time in Madrid but conceded two goals in two minutes to take the tie to extra time. Karim Benzema scored the winning penalty in the first half of extra time, sending Pep Guardiola’s side packing and ending their chances of winning a double this season.
Worse of all is that they are now realistically capable of ending the season without a trophy unless they can hang on to their one-point lead at the top of the PL table with four games to go.
City have Jürgen Klopp’s unrelenting Liverpool side for company in the PL title race and could begin the day in second place as the Reds in action on Saturday against Tottenham. Should Liverpool win, they will overtake the hosts. So, Pep’s side will have to muster the same response as they did last time when they beat Leeds United 4-0 to reclaim the top spot after Liverpool had overtaken them with a 1-0 over Newcastle.
Given their record on this ground against Newcastle in the Premier League (14 wins and two draws in 16 games), they will fancy their chances of recording a win. But having conceded seven goals in their last five PL home games, more than in the prior 13 combined, they will have to be more pragmatic in defence.
Possible Manchester City starting line-up
Ederson Moraes, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.
Injured: John Stones
Doubtful: Kyle Walker
Suspended: None
Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s five-game-winning run was brought to a stop last time out as they were beaten -0 by Liverpool.
The Magpies have been one of the most outstanding teams in 2022, winning 32 points from 16 games, and pulling themselves away from the relegation zone into mid-table.
The work Eddie Howe has done since his appointment has been incredible and the former Bournemouth man has been rewarded with his side currently sitting in tenth-place. For a side that up till January were considered the leading team in the relegation fight, the tenth position they currently occupy represents a major improvement.
And so, the visitors are now playing to finish in the top ten and will also be desperate to avenge their 4-0 loss to Man City early this season.
But given their poor record against City at the Etihad, a win looks very unlikely. But having conceded just two goals across their last five PL games, they will go into the game without fear.
Possible Newcastle United starting line-up
Martin Dubravka; Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn, Matt Targett; Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton, Bruno Guimarães; Allan Saint-Maximin, Chris Wood, Miguel Almiron.
Injured: Isaac Hayden, Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis
Doubtful: Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson
Suspended: None
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United
