Date: Saturday 19th August, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm
Stadium Etihad Stadium
Referee Robert James (England)
Goal Scorer:
Manchester City
Manchester City began their quest to become the first English team ever team to win four consecutive top-flight titles with a convincing 3-0 win at newly promoted Burnley on Matchday 1. It was about as predictable a result as they come, with Erling Haaland taking just three minutes and five seconds to find the net; in doing so he scored the earliest goal in a Premier League season for five years (since Paul Pogba’s goal for Manchester United against Leicester City, two minutes and 23 seconds into 2018-29).
They now face a much bigger test in the shape of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, who sit top of the table after their extremely impressive 5-1 win over Aston Villa last week. Alexander Isak was the best player on the opening weekend of the season according to the Opta Player Ratings, scoring two goals and thus becoming the first player to score twice for Newcastle in their first game of a Premier League season since Obafemi Martins against Bolton in 2007-08. Newcastle’s aim will likely be another top-four finish this season, but after the resounding victory over Villa, some fans might be dreaming of even bigger things.
Man City have lost just one of their last 31 Premier League games against Newcastle, winning 25 and drawing five, with that defeat – a 2-1 loss – coming at St. James’ Park in January 2019. At the Etihad, meanwhile, City have won each of their last 14 Premier League games against Newcastle, scoring 48 goals and conceding just seven. It’s both City’s longest winning home run and Newcastle’s longest losing away run against specific opposition in the clubs’ league histories.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
[color=blackNewcastle[/color][/size]
The omens are bad for them this weekend, though. They haven’t won their first two games of a Premier League campaign since 1997-98, and their record against Man City – particularly at the Etihad Stadium – is nothing short of atrocious.
However, Newcastle are a much stronger team these days than they would have been for many of the meetings in that run, and confidence will be high after they thrashed Aston Villa on the opening day. It might not be high enough that they believe they have a genuine chance of ending their poor run at City, but they certainly have more of a chance than they did in any other recent meeting, with Newcastle having spent much of their recent history battling relegation while City fought for the title.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Barnes
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle
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