Manchester City will look to continue their charge towards a fifth consecutive Premier League title on Saturday lunchtime when they visit Newcastle United at St James' Park. The Cityzens were embroiled in a thoroughly entertaining and controversial meeting with championship rivals Arsenal last week, eventually breaking through the Gunners' stern rearguard to salvage a 2-2 draw despite having a player advantage for most of the match. Hosts Newcastle, meanwhile, saw their unbeaten start to the league campaign come to a disappointing end in a 3-1 defeat at Fulham last time out. They were due to be in midweek Carabao Cup action against Wimbledon, but extensive flooding means that fixture had to be postponed.
Given their midweek match was called off, Newcastle's squad was given 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, however. Manager Eddie Howe remains without central defenders Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, while midfielder Lewis Miley and forward Callum Wilson remain unavailable.
Harvey Barnes has been the Magpies' standout performer at the start of the season and has scored in three successive league games. He should start on the right wing in an attack featuring Anthony Gordon on the opposite flank, but Alexander Isak is a major doubt. The Swedish striker has a minor toe fracture and hasn't trained all week.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Man City (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Isak, Gordon.
Man City were dealt a cruel injury blow in their title tussle with Arsenal last week as midfield star Rodri was downed with a ligament problem in his knee. The Spaniard is expected to miss most of the season, leaving Pep Guardiola in need of a new stabilising presence in the middle of the park. The former Barcelona boss also has worries over Kevin De Bruyne's fitness. The Belgian made his comeback from a severe injury in this fixture 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 sidelines, with plenty of changes expected from the starting XI that beat Watford on Tuesday.
Man City predicted lineup vs Newcastle (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Stones; Savinho, Gundogan, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
The gauntlet has been thrown down to City as they seek to retain their Premier League title. Can they perform consistently without Rodri, who has so often powered his side to victory when they've looked out of sorts? Guardiola has undoubted quality he can turn to in his compatriot's absence, with other midfielders like Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic capable of stepping up.
Newcastle have lost ten of their last 12 games against City and the defeat at Fulham was hardly good preparation ahead of their clash with the English champions. They may breach City's defence, but expect the visitors to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table with a victory.
Newcastle United will try to get back in the win column against visiting Manchester City when the sides meet on Saturday. Newcastle endured a pair of close league defeats to the four-time repeat champions last season.
The Magpies defeated a heavily rotated Cityzens side in a League Cup third-round clash last September. But you have to go back to 2019 to find Newcastle's most recent league win in the series, with their two such meetings serving as an example of the difference between "good" and "great." In City's 3-2 win at St. James' Park on Jan. 13, the Magpies stormed to a 2-1 halftime lead through goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. They conceded two late goals however, including a stunningly composed winner from Oscar Bobb in second-half stoppage time. In City's 1-0 home triumph on Aug. 19, 2023, they got a 31st-minute lead through Julian Alvarez.
"We have had some really good games against them at home, some nearly moments for us," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. "We felt we did a lot right but did not get the result last season. I think it shows that against that type of opposition, the quality that Manchester City possess, you have to be on it for every minute."
The timing may be better this time for Newcastle (3-1-1, 10 points), who are facing City (4-0-1, 13 points) fresh off the news that the standout midfielder Rodri had season-ending ACL surgery. Pep Guardiola's side has survived without Rodri in three of its five league games so far. But the Cityzens lost three of the four league matches they played without him last season, against no defeats across his 34 appearances.
"What he gives us we don't have a similar player," Guardiola said. "But the other players all together can replace what Rodri has given us since he arrived. We have to do it as a team and find a way to play during a lot of months without an important player."
Kevin De Bruyne (thigh) also won't be available for City, though Guardiola said he potentially could return in its final game before the October international break. He also missed last weekend's 2-2 home draw to Arsenal. And while Erling Haaland has been sensational, scoring 10 league goals so far, no one else has multiples in the league yet. Newcastle also could be without Isak (toe), with Howe characterizing the striker as doubtful after missing training this week.
Manchester City are back in Premier League action at Newcastle on Saturday. Pep Guardiola takes the champions to St James’ Park for the early kick-off and can move four points clear at the top before the chasing Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal get underway. Still, City have been rocked by the news that key midfielder Rodri will be missing a prolonged period of action following the serious knee injury he sustained during the dramatic 2-2 draw with the Gunners on Sunday. The hosts, meanwhile, lost their unbeaten record this season with a 3-1 defeat at Fulham and are yet to wholly convince.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
Newcastle vs Man City is scheduled for a 12.30pm BST on Saturday 28 September, 2024. St James’ Park in Newcastle will host. TV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 11am BST. Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Discovery+ app. LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Newcastle will be without Callum Wilson for the game, while Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are long-term absentees. Lewis Miley won’t feature, while Howe could make changes after the loss at Fulham. Alexander Isak is also a major doubt due to a broken toe.
Rodri is out for City after it was confirmed that he will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury. Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb remain on the sidelines. Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out too, with Guardiola hopeful that the Belgian can return before the international break.
It’ll be fascinating to see how Guardiola replaces Rodri but given how underwhelming Newcastle have been, City should still have enough.
Man City to win, 3-1.
Newcastle wins: 73
Draws: 41
Man City wins: 78
Newcastle to win: 4/1
Draw: 7/2
Man City to win: 4/7
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
