Newcastle Utd vs Manchester City – Match Preview – Manchester City will look to continue their unbeaten run as they travel to relegation-threatened Newcastle United.
After sealing their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, City kept alive their dream of the domestic treble. With a favourable Champions League draw to boot, Pep Guardiola’s side remain in pole position for their most successful season to date. The club hold every record in the league, with the most goals scored and the joint best defensive record. 11 points clear of their biggest rivals in second, this season couldn’t have gone better had Guardiola scripted it himself.
de Bruyne has been in fantastic form for City Photo Credit: skysports.com
With Vincent Kompany still struggling to maintain his fitness, City may have to delve into the January transfer market. Rumoured to be on their shopping list is Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch centre back’s future was subject to mass speculation in the summer, with Liverpool failing to land their number one target. Now it appears to be City’s turn to tempt Southampton into parting with their prized asset. With only Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala as fit recognised defenders, they need to strengthen that area as soon as possible.
Can Gayle trouble the City defence Photo Credit: skysports.com
Newcastle fans will be praying for some transfer business of their own when the window reopens in January. Rafa Benitez’s side are in desperate need of reinforcements or they risk an immediate return to the Championship. The team have recorded just one point from their last eight Premier League games. At home, they are without a win since October and have lost their last four games at St James’ Park. Devoid of any confidence or ideas, Benitez will be hoping to keep his side out of the bottom three with January looming. However, should Mike Ashley fail to sell the club before then, they could be left without any further investment, which would leave them clinging on to their Premier League status by a thread.
With that in mind, the last thing Newcastle need is a visit from the league leaders. As if things weren’t tough enough, the Toon Army haven’t won against City in 20 league games, with their last win coming back in 2005. Of those twenty games, they’ve drawn only three, meaning City have collected 54 points out of a possible 60 against them.
With Newcastle’s Achilles heel being in front of goal and City being resolute at the back, there’s only one way this game is heading. City’s attack will be far too much for the hosts to handle, whilst Newcastle pose little threat going the other way.
Prediction: Newcastle 0-3 Manchester City
SKYBET: CITY TO WIN TO NIL- 11/10
SKYBET: AGUERO TO SCORE FIRST AND CITY TO WIN 4-0- 22/1
SKYBET: JESUS AND STERLING TO BOTH SCORE- 5/2
SKYBET: GAYLE TO SCORE IN 90 MINS- 11/4
SKYBET: BTTS AND CITY TO WIN- 6/4
BET365: CORRECT SCORE CITY TO WIN 3-0- (link no longer available)
BET365: ALTERNATIVE TOTAL GOALS- OVER 5.5- (link no longer available)
