Newcastle United Vs Manchester City: The Citizens Membara, Magpies Take A Breath At St James Park

Bruno Guimarmen, attack from Newcastle United's midfield (photo; x @nufc)

JAKARTA - Manchester City came to St James Park on Saturday 22 November on a simple but stressful mission: cutting the distance with Arsenal to one point and keeping their heat rhythm in the Premier League. Newcastle, who later looked more like a damaged rollerTAL than last season's European team, tried to end a negative trend that started to make supporters nervous.

Newcastle closed the international break with bitter feelings. Two consecutive away defeats to West Ham and Brentford made their position in the standings even more vulnerable. They have only won three times from 11 matches and are now in 14th place, only two steps from the red zone.

Eddie Howe, who still has full support from management, said his team needed a big response in the midst of a hectic busy schedule. St James Park could be a place of rescue, as the last five games there always ended in wins, at least two goals scored in each game.

The problem is, the opponent who comes is not a random team. History of scathing speech: Newcastle has only won once from the last 35 Premier League meetings against Manchester City. Howe even holds a fairly bitter personal record, without a single win from 18 league meetings against City.

Manchester City itself is again in the magic bulldozer mode. After a strange start to the season their two defeats from the first three matches they returned to the classic pattern: winning, winning, and winning again. Six wins from the last eight league games, plus Liverpool's embarrassing 3-0 win at Etihad, so it's a loud signal that Pep Guardiola's engine is back.

City have stalled a bit in away games this season, winning only twice from five trips. But they are still comfortable if they have to visit Newcastle, because they have won 12 times at their most record at the headquarters of The Magpies with one other away club, Everton. They also always scored in their last 33 league meetings with Newcastle, a streak that could only be defeated by the black-and-white age statistic of Premier League ancestors.

In terms of players, Newcastle lost Dan Burn due to a red card. Nick Pope and Joelinton are still in doubt after being injured in the match against Brentford. Anthony Gordon, Osula, and Livramento are also waiting for a medical evaluation. Malick Thiaw and mitigating Botman are likely to remain installed as central defender duo, while Nick Woltemade who is hot with the German national team is ready to lead the front line.

City lost Mateo Kovacic for a long time and Rodri is still being monitored. Guardiola seems satisfied with the formula that beat Liverpool: Matheus Nunes and Nico O's full-back hybrid, a strong duo of Dias and Gvardiol, and Nico Gonzalez who appears maturely filling the defensive midfielder post. In front, Doku is hot, Foden is stable, Cherki is getting bolder, and Haaland only needs one goal to touch the 100 mark in the Premier League is clearly the biggest threat.

Newcastle had a thrilling St James' Park energy, but City was in the phase when the slightest chance they had was magic to three points. Haaland who pursues history, plus City's unreasonable record against Newcastle, makes this game feel tough for the hosts. Newcastle may fight with passion, but City seems to have enough fuel to bring home the win home.

This match again shows how thin the line between the team trying to restart its season and the already running team is like a champion algorithm.

Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'pelan; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland.

Prediction: Newcastle 12 Manchester City