Newcastle United will welcome reigning English champions Manchester City to St. James’ Park in a heavyweight EFL Cup clash this Wednesday night.
Storming their way to that record-breaking 8-0 romp away at Sheffield United over the weekend, last season’s EFL Cup finalists Newcastle United will be desperate to lay down an early marker, but they certainly have an uphill task against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City juggernaut.
Newcastle might have struggled to find much Premier League fluidity when opening up the new campaign last month. But Eddie Howe’s high-flying squad certainly laid down a remarkable marker over the weekend.
After a hard-fought win over Brentford, Newcastle United ground out a point against AC Milan at San Siro in their first match back in the UEFA Champions League with grit, will, and luck. Back when pre-season predictions were made, there were concerns raised by pundits about whether Newcastle would be able to handle Premier League football and Champions League football.
But the Magpies showed no signs of fatigue, and they exhibited their strength in depth as they became the first side in Premier League history to have eight different scorers in one match in the 8-0 demolition job of Sheffield United in their own backyard.
It was a glimpse of what this Newcastle team — who had not been near their best this season really — can do, having reached last season’s EFL Cup final while securing a top-four finish in the Premier League. With the mood red-hot in Howe’s camp, Newcastle United will fancy themselves when the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City come to town for the third round of the Carabao Cup.
The Sky Blues are the only team still with a perfect winning record in the Premier League this season. The Citizens have picked up six wins from the six league games played so far and have also conceded the fewest goals in the division.
It looked like the Premier League table-toppers would run away with another rout when they raced into a 2-0 lead inside 14 minutes on Saturday against Forest. But then Rodri was shown a red card for violent conduct over Morgan Gibbs-White early in the second half, meaning that City played the rest of the game with ten men, although Guardiola’s side still managed to preserve a clean sheet.
These two sides last faced off in August this year in the Premier League, with a stunning finish from Julian Alvarez securing a 1-0 win for Manchester City. The Hard Tackle will now analyse both teams and how they are shaping up ahead of Sunday’s clash at St. James’ Park.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
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— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 25, 2023
Harvey Barnes was forced off through a toe injury against Sheffield United on Sunday and could be a doubt here. Other than that, manager Eddie Howe will remain without the injured trio of Joelinton, Joe Willock and Emil Krafth for this one. With both rotation and silverware on his mind, Howe may pick a well-balanced side to come out on top against a depleted Manchester City.
Martin Dubravka could come in for Nick Pope in between the sticks, with Fabian Schar and Sven Botman forming the central defensive pairing in front of the Slovakian shot-stopper. Kieran Trippier enjoyed an outstanding game against the Blades on Sunday, as he provided three assists.
But the 33-year-old is another player who could be rested in this one. Valentino Livramento could make his first start for the club after two substitute appearances in the league. Lewis Hall made his debut for the Magpies as a substitute against the Blades on Sunday, and he could be handed an opportunity from the start here.
£55 million summer signing Sandro Tonali has found himself on the bench for the last two league games. But he should come back into the team against City alongside ever-present Sean Longstaff and prodigy Elliot Anderson, with Bruno Guimaraes handed a breather after a hectic run of games.
There will also be changes in attack, with Alexander Isak rotating in for Callum Wilson as the central striker after scoring a cheeky goal against Sheffield United last time out. Jacob Murphy started in the Champions League against AC Milan last week, and he should be handed another opportunity against City, with Anthony Gordon providing an attacking threat on the opposite flank.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Botman, Hall; Longstaff, Tonali, Anderson; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Manchester City
Having signed only four players in the summer but allowing more than twice that number to leave, both on permanent and loan deals, Pep Guardiola has run into a number of key injuries as he continues to make do without Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, while Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic will likely miss this one.
The Manchester City boss has already hinted that he will prioritise the Premier League and Champions League ahead of the Carabao Cup in the busy period of games coming up and will deploy a much-weakened side against Newcastle United, a starting eleven that will include youth team players.
In a reshuffled backline, Stefan Ortega could come in for Ederson in between the sticks, with Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Sergio Gomez forming the back four. With Rodri hit with a three-match ban for a moment of madness against Forest, Kalvin Phillips could be handed a rare start in the holding role.
Promising Norwegian talent Oscar Bott might get a start after being a fringe player this season so far, while Matheus Nunes will continue to reprise the No. 8 role. Guardiola could manage star striker Erling Haaland’s minutes’ here. So, Julian Alvarez could feature in the central striker role, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish providing the attacking support.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gomez; Nunes, Phillips, Bobb; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won eight of their last nine meetings with Newcastle United.
- The Cityzens have won each of their last six games across all competitions.
- Guardiola’s side have recorded a clean sheet in three of their previous four Premier League meetings against the Magpies.
- In addition to bagging a remarkable eight goals away at Sheffield United over the weekend, Newcastle have kept a clean sheet in each of their previous three appearances.
- Manchester City have scored at least three or more goals in their last four matches.
Player to Watch
Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon has improved dramatically under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United and produced an electric performance after coming on as a substitute in the 12th minute against Sheffield United.
The 22-year-old was an instant threat for Newcastle and was a menace for the Blades’ defenders. He provided a fine assist for Sean Longstaff’s opener before unleashing a perfect curling shot into the corner to score his second goal of the season. Although Gordon could not hit the ground running straightaway at Newcastle after joining from Everton in January 2023, he is coming into his own now at St. James’ Park.
He has made five starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Newcastle United so far this season. The no. 10 has scored two goals and given two assists in those games. Already a fan favourite, he would be a key player for Newcastle if they were to progress to the next round here.
Prediction
Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City
This would normally be an absolute cracker at full pelt. But both teams have stacked medical rooms. Manchester City boast a far superior individual quality on paper. But Pep Guardiola has already stated he won’t risk more senior players like Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias and surely Erling Haaland too and will use some of the Academy talent.
Newcastle United themselves will be missing several players, which will not allow Eddie Howe to rotate his side much. Still, the Magpies should line up with most first-team stars, buoyed by Sunday’s demolition of Sheffield United and a raucous St. James’ Park, which should give them a significant edge.
Bringing their long-running silverware drought is an obsession in Tyneside, and this is a great chance of knocking out one of the favourites given Guadiola’s distaste for the competition made clear. The Toon could even come out on top in this by a couple if City do play their youngsters.
