Manchester City and Newcastle United are set to face off at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon in a crucial Premier League encounter. The match, kicking off at 15:00 GMT, sees Pep Guardiola’s side aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United look to secure a top-four finish.
Guardiola has named a strong starting XI, with Erling Haaland leading the line once again. The Norwegian has scored 35 goals in the Premier League this season, a record for a 38-game season. Newcastle, meanwhile, welcome back Allan Saint-Maximin to the starting lineup after injury. The French winger’s pace and trickery could cause problems for City’s defence. The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with over 700 million viewers expected to tune in worldwide.
Pep Guardiola names starting XI for crucial Premier League showdown
Pep Guardiola has named his starting XI for Manchester City’s crucial Premier League showdown against Newcastle United. The Citizens will be without the suspended Kyle Walker, with João Cancelo taking his place at right-back.
Rodri starts in midfield alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan. The trio will look to control the game’s tempo and provide creative spark. Up front, Erling Haaland will lead the line, supported by Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has also made his selections. The Magpies will be without Allan Saint-Maximin, with Miguel Almirón starting on the right wing. Joe Willock partners Bruno Guimarães in midfield, with Joelinton leading the attack.
City’s defence features a back four of Cancelo, Nathan Aké, John Stones, and Aymeric Laporte. Ederson starts in goal. The Citizens will aim to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Newcastle’s backline consists of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, and Javier Manquillo. Martin Dúbravka will guard the goal. The Magpies will look to secure a positive result against the league leaders.
Both managers have named strong starting lineups for the crucial encounter. The match kicks off at 15:00 GMT at the Etihad Stadium.
Eddie Howe makes three changes for Newcastle's trip to the Etihad
Eddie Howe has made three changes to the Newcastle United starting lineup for their Premier League clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Magpies will be looking to build on their impressive 4-1 victory over Brentford last weekend.
Kieran Trippier returns to the starting lineup after missing the Brentford game due to a minor injury. The England international will slot back into the right-back position, replacing the out-of-form Javier Manquillo.
Howe has also made changes in midfield, with Joe Willock and Jonjo Shelvey replacing Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden. Willock has been in fine form this season, scoring three goals in his last five appearances.
Up front, Chris Wood retains his place in the starting lineup, partnering with Allan Saint-Maximin. The New Zealand international has been a regular goal threat for the Magpies this season, netting five goals in the Premier League.
Newcastle will be facing a tough task against a Manchester City side that has won their last five Premier League games. Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, with the Citizens currently sitting four points clear of second-placed Liverpool.
The game kicks off at 15:00 GMT, with both teams aiming to secure a vital three points in the race for the Premier League title.
City's attacking trio set to face Newcastle's resilient defence
Manchester City’s attacking trio of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden are set to face a stern test against Newcastle United’s resilient defence in today’s Premier League clash at Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola has named an unchanged starting lineup from the side that defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 last weekend.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Brentford. Fabian Schär and Allan Saint-Maximin return to the starting lineup, replacing Sven Botman and Jacob Murphy. The Magpies will look to maintain their impressive defensive record, having conceded just 27 goals in 27 Premier League games this season.
City’s attack has been in fine form, with Haaland netting 28 goals in 27 Premier League appearances. The Norwegian striker will be eager to add to his tally against a Newcastle defence that has kept 11 clean sheets this season. De Bruyne and Foden will provide the creativity and support for Haaland, with the duo having contributed 15 goals and 16 assists between them in the league this campaign.
Newcastle’s defence will be marshalled by captain Jamaal Lascelles, who has been a key figure in the Magpies’ impressive season. The centre-back will be tasked with keeping Haaland quiet, a challenge that has proven difficult for many defenders this season. Lascelles will be supported by Schär and Kieran Trippier, with the full-backs providing width and defensive solidity.
The match kicks off at 15:00 GMT, with both teams looking to secure a vital three points in the race for European qualification. City currently sit in fourth place, three points ahead of Newcastle in fifth. The result could have significant implications for the final Premier League standings.
Midfield battle takes centre stage in Manchester
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named a strong starting XI for their Premier League clash against Newcastle United, with the midfield battle expected to take centre stage. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, and Rodri will once again anchor the Citizens’ midfield, a trio that has been instrumental in their recent success.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, will look to disrupt City’s rhythm with a midfield of Joelinton, Bruno Guimarães, and Joe Willock. The Magpies’ midfield has been a revelation this season, providing both defensive solidity and attacking threat.
Guardiola acknowledged the importance of the midfield battle pre-match. “Newcastle have excellent midfielders,” he said. “They press high and transition quickly. We must be ready for that.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe echoed Guardiola’s sentiments. “City’s midfield is world-class,” he stated. “But our players are ready for the challenge. We’ve prepared well and will give everything.”
The battle in the middle of the park will be crucial, with both teams relying on their midfielders to control the tempo and create chances. City’s trio will look to dominate possession, while Newcastle’s midfield will aim to press and counter effectively.
With both teams boasting strong defensive records, the midfield battle could well decide the outcome of the match. Fans can expect an intense and closely contested battle in the heart of the pitch.
Key absences could shape the outcome of this Premier League clash
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed his starting lineup for today’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United, with key absences potentially shaping the outcome. The Citizens will be without the services of Aymeric Laporte, who continues to recover from a knee injury sustained earlier this season. Additionally, Phil Foden and Nathan Aké are also sidelined, with the latter expected to be out for several weeks due to a hamstring issue.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, will be without the influential Joelinton, who is serving a one-match suspension following his red card in last weekend’s defeat to Liverpool. The Magpies’ defensive duo of Fabian Schär and Javier Manquillo are also unavailable, with both players nursing hamstring injuries. Manager Eddie Howe has opted to start Allan Saint-Maximin on the bench, with Miguel Almirón and Jacob Murphy occupying the wide positions.
Guardiola has named a strong starting eleven, with Rúben Dias partnering John Stones in central defence. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva will provide the creative spark in midfield, while Erling Haaland leads the line. “We know Newcastle are a strong team, but we are focused on our own performance,” Guardiola stated ahead of the match.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool. Bruno Guimarães comes into the side in place of Joelinton, while Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn start in defence. “We need to be at our best to get a result here,” Howe said. “City are a top team, but we are capable of causing them problems.”
The stage is set for an intriguing clash at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, will be without the suspended Kyle Walker. Newcastle United, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their recent positive form and secure a crucial away win. The match promises to be a test of City’s title credentials against a Newcastle side that has shown impressive resilience this season. The result could have significant implications for the Premier League’s title race and Newcastle’s European aspirations.
