Manchester City will continue the defence of their Premier League title this Sunday with a visit to Newcastle United.
Venue: St. James’ Park (Newcastle)
Key Statistics
Newcastle United are one of just two clubs not to have conceded a goal after two game weeks.
They have lost their last five head-to-head games with Manchester City.
The hosts have won eight of their last ten league games at home, losing one and drawing once.
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 19 away league games.
The Cityzens scored the opening goal in 12 of their last 19 away league games.
They have kept clean sheets in two of their opening games this season.
Head to head
In 44 Premier League meetings between both sides, Manchester City have the superior record, winning 28 times while Newcastle have just eight wins.
There have been over 3.5 goals in five of the last six league H2Hs.
Latest performances in all competitions
Newcastle: D-W-W-W-L
Manchester City: W-W-L-W-W
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will look to continue their unbeaten start to the new season when they welcome the reigning Premier League to Tyneside on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies have taken four points from the available six this season after recording a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the opening round followed by a goalless draw against Brighton last time out.
The result against Brighton was down to the heroics of goalkeeper Nick Pope. The England man was in excellent form last weekend, denying Brighton frequently to ensure that Eddie Howe’s side are among the two teams yet to concede a goal in the league this season.
However, they will have to channel every ounce of resilience if they are to record a clean sheet against the formidable Manchester City, who are incidentally the other side to possess a perfect defensive record thus far.
Given that they have recorded eight wins in their last ten home games, they will fancy their chances of getting a result in this fixture and ending a run of five consecutive losses against Manchester City.
Possible Newcastle starting line-up
Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Joelinton, Bruno Guimarães, Joe Willock; Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron.
Injured: Jonjo Shelvey
Doubtful: Emile Krafth, Matt Targett, Jamal Lewis, Federico Fernandez
Suspended: None
Manchester City
City continued their perfect start to the season last weekend as they beat Bournemouth 4-0 to move on top of the table.
In a largely one-sided game at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s side scored three goals in the first half through midfielders Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, before a second-half own goal by Jefferson Lemar sealed the win for the Cityzens.
They will travel to Tyneside looking to record another win and extend their unbeaten run away from home to 20 games. Indeed, the last time Manchester City lost an EPL game on the road was incredibly the first game week of last season and so far they have been in an impeccable form on their road trips.
Guardiola’s men have scored 2+ goals in five of their last eight away league games while restricting their opponents from scoring on five occasions. Given that they have won each of the last five meetings between both sides, they will come into this fixture confident of getting a result.
Possible Manchester City starting line-up
Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland.
Injured: Aymeric Laporte
Doubtful: Cole Palmer, Kalvin Phillips
Suspended: None
Prediction
Newcastle 0-2 Manchester City
