Manchester City will host Newcastle United at the Etihad on Saturday, looking to boost their title hopes and close the gap to Arsenal.
Arsenal dropped points in their last game, and Manchester City will be desperate to close the gap in the game vs Newcastle United on Saturday. It will be interesting to see if they can pick up a win here. They are undoubtedly the better team, and the home fans will expect a strong performance here.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive victories in all competitions. The Magpies will look to pull up an upset here. It will be interesting to see if they can dent Manchester City’s title hopes with a positive result here.
On paper, Manchester City have a better team, and they should be able to get the job done. However, they cannot afford to underestimate the opposition. This will be a challenging game for them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Jeremy Doku (calf), and Josko Gvardiol (calf) are ruled out for the home side.Manchester City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the full-backs. They will keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Rodri will start in the defensive midfield role, looking to control the tempo and provide defensive cover, with Tijjani Reijnders adding drive and creativity alongside him.
Bernardo Silva will add creativity from the attacking midfield role. Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo will add flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City vs Newcastle United on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Reijnders, Rodri; Foden, Silva, Semenyo; Haaland
Newcastle United
Emil Krafth (knee), Valentino Livramento (thigh), Lewis Miley (knee), and Fabian Schar (ankle), Yoane Wissa (knock) are all ruled out for the home side. Bruno Guimaraes misses out with a thigh injury.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-1-2 formation vs Manchester City, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Jacob Ramsey will start in the middle of the park alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Joelinton and Ramsey will look to add creativity and drive to the side, while Tonali looks to provide defensive cover.
Anthony Elanga will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create openings in the final third. FInally, Nick Woltemade will spearhead the Newcastle United attack vs Manchester City alongside Anthony Gordon.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Ramsdale; Trippier, Botman, Thiaw, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga; Gordon, Woltemade
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won their last 12 home matches against Newcastle United in all competitions.
- Manchester City have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last eight home matches against Newcastle in all competitions. City have scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 12 home matches against Newcastle United in all competitions.
- Manchester City have picked up four wins in a row, whereas Newcastle United are coming into this game on the back of three wins in a row.
- Since conceding four goals in a 5-4 win over Fulham in December, Manchester City have only conceded eight goals in 12 Premier League matches, the fewest of any side in that time (Gameweek 15 onwards), with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma preventing exactly three goals based on his xGoT in that time (11 xGoT, 8 conceded).
- Omar Marmoush has scored five goals in his two home games against Newcastle United in all competitions, netting a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season, and a brace in this season’s EFL Cup semi-final.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian international striker is our key player to watch. Haaland is in spectacular form this season, and he is the top scorer in the Premier League. Manchester City will depend on him to help pick up all three points. Newcastle have been vulnerable defensively and need to improve there.
Haaland has the quality to exploit their defensive vulnerabilities and cause all sorts of problems for them with his finishing and movement. Manchester City will need him to step up and deliver in the final third.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United
Both teams will be playing for the three points, and this is likely to be an open game with plenty of opportunities. Neither side is defensive in their approach, which could make this a high-scoring game.
Manchester City have more quality and depth at their disposal, and they should be able to get the job done. Newcastle United have been poor at the back, and their defence is likely to let them down here. A comfortable victory for the home team is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
