Manchester City will look to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat of the season when they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
City's long unbeaten domestic run came to an end against Liverpool last time out, but they will be confident of returning to winning ways against a Newcastle side that are very much in a relegation scrap at this stage of the campaign.
Manchester City
© Offside
Well, it finally happened. City's unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end last weekend when they suffered a 4-3 loss at Liverpool. It had been questioned whether the Citizens could go through the entire campaign unbeaten, but they were undone by the Reds at Anfield.
It has been such an incredible season for Pep Guardiola's side, however, and as a result they still have a 12-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United with just 15 games of the campaign left to play. They will be champions unless a serious collapse occurs over the next couple of months.
City have now dropped points in each of their last two away Premier League matches, but they have won 10 and drawn one of their 11 league fixtures on home soil. They recorded a 3-1 win over Watford in their last top-flight match at the Etihad Stadium, and will be eyeing another three points this weekend.
The majority of teams have sat back against City this season, but Liverpool managed to exploit the Citizens' defence at Anfield last weekend. Newcastle adopted a defensive style when they hosted Guardiola's side in the latter stages of 2017, and it will be very interesting to see which tactics are deployed here.
City will fancy their chances of winning their next two against Newcastle and Burnley, but they will then welcome an improving Leicester City on February 10, before visiting Arsenal and hosting Chelsea in their next two.
It is a big few weeks for the Citizens considering that the Champions League also returns next month, and after the disappointment of losing at Anfield, Guardiola will be looking to return to winning ways as soon as possible.
Recent form: WWWDWL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWWL
Newcastle
© SilverHub
The Newcastle supporters are still no closer to learning what is happening behind the scenes when it comes to the ownership of the club. The Magpies are yet to sign any fresh blood this month, but the players available to head coach Rafael Benitez have started to perform in recent weeks.
Newcastle might be 15th in the table – just three points clear of the relegation zone – but there have been more positive signs in recent weeks. Indeed, after a horror run of form in the latter stages of 2017, the former Championship club have now lost just one of their last five matches in the Premier League.
A 3-2 win at West Ham United on December 23 was followed by the home defeat to City on December 27. The Magpies have taken five points from their three matches since then, however, including a 1-0 victory at Stoke City earlier this month.
Benitez's side were held at home by fellow strugglers Swansea City last weekend, but after losing eight times between October 30 and December 16, there have been signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Newcastle will actually enter this match having won their last two away Premier League matches, and they have some huge games coming up as they prepare to tackle the likes of Burnley and Crystal Palace over the next few weeks.
It is going to be tough for the Magpies to stop a City side that will be desperate to return to winning ways, but master tactician Benitez might well have something special up his sleeve at the Etihad Stadium.
Recent form: LWLDWD
Recent form (all competitions): WLDWWD
Team News
© SilverHub
Fabian Delph limped out of City's defeat at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, and the left-back is a major doubt for the league leaders.
Danilo is on standby to start, while David Silva is also expected to return for the Citizens after being left on the bench against Liverpool.
Gabriel Jesus's ongoing absence will again see Sergio Aguero lead the line with support from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling in the wide positions.
As for Newcastle, Jacob Murphy is pushing for a return to the team after being left on the bench against Swansea last weekend.
Benitez has no fresh injury concerns from the clash with the Swans, and he is expected to keep with the majority of the players that started that one.
Ayoze Perez should keep his spot in the team, although Joselu's goal last time out should see the Spaniard replace Dwight Gayle at centre-forward.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, D.Silva; Sane, Aguero, Sterling
Newcastle possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Diame, Shelvey; Atsu, Perez, Murphy; Joselu
Head To Head
Newcastle have not beaten City in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory during the 2005-06 campaign.
Indeed, the Citizens have won 13 of their last 14 Premier League games with Newcastle, although the Magpies did hold City to a 1-1 draw when they met at St James' Park during the 2015-16 campaign.
Newcastle lost 6-1 when they last travelled to City in the Premier League, although the Magpies did record a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium during the 2014-15 League Cup.
We say: Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle
Newcastle might have won their last two away matches in the Premier League, but it is a massive task for the Magpies to avoid defeat this weekend. We fancy City to return to winning ways following the disappointment of suffering their first Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Matt Law
