Man City Team News: Man City will be taking on table-toppers, Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium for the first home game of the season. Both sides locked horns in March last season and City emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. Meanwhile, the Magpies held Pep Guarddiola’s men 3-3 in an eventful draw in the reverse fixture. Man City faces a tough task against a side that qualified for the Champions League.
Man City were the treble winners last season as they won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League under Pep Guardiola. They are coming off a maiden UEFA Super Cup triumph over Sevilla on penalties. Nesyri’s early strike was cancelled by Cole Palmer’s second-half goal. The Cityzens managed to hold the nerves in the penalty shootout. Man City would look to extend their winning run at their fortress.
Man City Team News
Pep Guardiola’s side is targeting a fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2023/24. They had a decent pre-season where the Spaniard fixed the errors in all areas. Man City faced Championship winners in their season opener and they snatched three points with a 3-0 win, thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland. However, it offered a long-term injury to Man City’s star performer Kevin de Bruyne.
Man City are having a 10-game winning streak at Etihad Stadium and they would look to extend it against Newcastle. The Sky Blues last failed to win a home game on New Year’s Eve against Everton. Newcastle also won just one game out of the last five away games. Pep Guardiola’s side has lost just one against the Magpies out of 31 games and it came in January 2019.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has to work out the back-up option for injured Kevin de Bruyne who had a hamstring problem in the win over Burnley last weekend. The Belgian was instrumental in Man City’s treble win last season. His injury is pretty serious and he can take three to four months to recover.
The Spaniard tried to fix the vacant spot of Kavin de Bruyne with Cole Palmer who is set to be deputy untill the Belgian forward recovers. Palmer scored the only goal in UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. Man City boss also marked the return of John Stones and Ruben Dias against Sevilla. Man City’s most recent signing, Josko Gvardiol made his first start for Man City. The former Leipzig defender will make his Premier League debut with the Sky Blues.
Barcelona-linked Bernardo Silva is likely to return as he has recovered from illness. Julian Alvarez and Rico Lewis will also be considered for the first XI. Erling Haaland will lead the attack in the 4-3-3 formation. Pep Guardiola opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Burnley but he has to twist his formation in the home game. Erling Haaland will get support from Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish. Walker and Gvardiol will cover the flanks in defence. Akanji and Nathan Ake will play in their natural positions as centre-backs.
Man City XI
Ederson; Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Rodri, Kovacic; Silva, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
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