Manchester City will aim to put pressure on league leaders Arsenal as they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium for a fiesty Saturday lunchtime encounter. The Citizens have it all to do in their quest to defend their league title and will be poised to add to their run against one of the toughest sides in the league this season.
After both sides secured victories last weekend, City trailed the Gunners by two points in the title race, but Arsenal's midweek triumph over Everton extended their lead to five points. With the Gunners set to face Bournemouth later in the day, Pep Guardiola's men cannot afford any more slip-ups as the premiership approaches its business end.
It is a different kind of vibe for Pep Guardiola's side as they enter the weekend's game in good for. The Etihad outfit was able to bounce back from draws with Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig to demolish Bournemouth 4-1 in their most recent league encounter. They continued their impressive form in the FA Cup, securing a quarter-final date with Burnley after a 3-0 win over Bristol City.
In hindsight, Man City will be bouyed by their midweek cup victory in the quest to break the resolve of Newcastle. History is well in their favor as they have registered 13 wins from their last 13 Premier League home meetings with the Magpies. Across the last 16 outings, the former have only lost once in their own backyard against the Tyneside club.
For Newcastle, the mission will be to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final. In what was the Magpies' first Wembley appearance for a major cup final in 24 years, they were denied the chance to make history by City's noisy neighbours who run away with a 2-0 win at their expense.
With that already in the rear view, the objective to secure a place to feature in Europe next season remains paramount for Eddie Howe's side. At the moment, they sit in fifth place, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, but with two games in hand.
Newcastle's form, however, is a concern, as they are winless in their last four matches across all competitions and haven't won in the Premier League since January 15th. As a result, victory against City would be a massive boost in their quest for Champions League qualification, with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in range to cause a possible demotion.
Key stats: Man City vs Newcastle United
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Newcastle United have not lost any of their last eight Premier League away matches, winning four and losing four. The club has only had a longer unbeaten run once in their top-flight history.
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Manchester City have won 13 consecutive Premier League home games against Newcastle, and in their last 16 matches at the Etihad Stadium, they have won 14, drawn one, and lost one.
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This season, Manchester City has already suffered four defeats in 25 matches, which is more than the total number of defeats they had last season.
Team news: Man City vs Newcastle United
Manchester City's John Stones has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the team's FA Cup win against Arsenal. Aymeric Laporte has also been absent due to illness in recent games against RB Leipzig, Bournemouth, and Bristol City. However, both players may be ready to return to the squad soon, which would make Manchester City a potentially fully fit team. Backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will also be available again after recovering from a hand injury sustained during Manchester City's victory over Bristol City.
On the other hand, Newcastle's Emil Krafth is still out with an injury, while Bruno Guimaraes suffered a foot injury during the Carabao Cup final but is expected to be fit and available for the upcoming game after being spotted in training images. Meanwhile, Nick Pope will be eligible for selection after serving his suspension for a red card he received in a game against Liverpool.
Broadcast information: Man City vs Newcastle United
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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