Premier League: Pep’s Sky Blues to Pile more Misery on the Magpies

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

Manchester City are aiming to make it six wins on the run when they cross the country to the North East to meet Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.

The Sky Blues enter the second half of the campaign in third place in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand; and while the Reds are missing their talisman Mo Salah during the African Cup of Nations Manchester City don’t have any players flying off, and that gives Pep Guardiola a nice advantage as he plans for another trophy assault. 

Like City, Newcastle United have oil rich owners but, unlike City, they are still in the early stages of their journey. That said, after qualifying for the Champions League last season, the first half of the 2023/24 campaign looks like a step backwards, with their European adventure brutally ended and their recent Premier League results falling off a cliff. Howe is a cool customer but he must be feeling the heat.       

Both teams come into the game on the back of an FA Cup triumph over second tier opposition, Newcastle winning the Wear-Tyne derby 3-0 while Manchester City thumped Huddersfield Town 5-0, and my money is on the Sky Blues picking up another victory.

Talking Points

Newcastle’s New Year wishes 

January is a big month for the Magpies. Off the field there have been rumblings, Howe has had a big injury list to deal with and he needs to strengthen in the January window to arrest the pre-Christmas decline. He needs a striker, a midfielder and a goalkeeper and Howe has already begun work with the agents of some top players. The striking position, to provide competition for Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, will be difficult to fill and while Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke would fit the bill the Cherries will ask for a big fee which might cause the Magpies Financial Fair Play issues.

A loan deal for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips would strengthen the midfield and that one is still bubbling, while a replacement for the injured Nick Pope is essential. Former Manchester United keeper David De Gea is a free agent but his wages might be a sticking point.

On the pitch, following on from three league defeats, to strugglers Luton Town and Nottingham Forest, and then league leaders Liverpool, the cup win at the Stadium of Light was a real blessing. But the poor run of Premier League 2024 results has left the Magpies down in ninth place and 11 points off the top four. And it couldn’t get much tougher now with the 2023 Treble winners coming into view.

City back to full strength

The Sky Blues went through a period of dropping two points a game by conceding late equalisers to Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea but they have found the winning habit again. Five victories on the bounce, including winning the FIFA World Club Cup, has got Guardiola’s men back on track, and the return of Kevin De Bruyne in the FA Cup win over the Terriers was a huge moment. 

And now it seems that Erling Braut Haaland is nearing a return. The Norwegian goal machine has missed the last eight games with a bone stress reaction in his foot but reports in Manchester suggest he has a strong chance of being involved in Newcastle. And Bernardo Silva, who missed the Cup win over Huddersfield, is fit again and raring to go.

To add these three to a team which has been playing some great football in recent weeks, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez have been in scintillating form, is a thought most managers can only dream of. But Guardiola is the best in the business and he makes the players what they are.      

History

City have won four and drawn one of their last six meetings with Newcastle, but back in September Howe’s men put the Sky Blues out of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 third round win.   

With five wins and a draw from the last six, the Sky Blues are miles ahead in terms of recent form, with the Magpies winning two and losing four.

For most of the season St James’ Park had been a fortress through, with the passionate Geordie fans watching eight wins and two defeats, though Newcastle lost their last home game 3-1 to Nottingham Forest. 

Betting Tip

The latest Premier League 2024 betting odds are confident in the Sky Blues, bringing the champions in to a price of 1.75 to win the title, with Liverpool (3.25) and Arsenal (7.00) the challengers.

Manchester City tend to accelerate after Christmas and a win on Newcastle would certainly lay down a marker. At SBOTOP odds of 1.51 they are strong favourites to pick up all three points and I suspect they will. Newcastle are at 4.84 and the draw is at 3.91 and you would not have got price like that for the Geordies at home a few weeks ago, no matter who they were playing.

But Howe is under pressure and I fear, for him, that things are not about to improve this weekend.

 

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