Preview: Newcastle United vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Hoping to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season, Manchester City will make the trip to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's side have started their title defence with back-to-back league wins, while their hosts are also unbeaten after two outings in England's top flight.

Match preview

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Heading into their first full season under the management of Eddie Howe, Newcastle United set about hoping to improve on last year's 11th-placed finish, having enjoyed an impressive rise following his appointment in November.

After a summer which saw goalkeeper Nick Pope and centre-back Sven Botman arrive from Burnley and Lille respectively, while Matt Targett's loan was made permanent, the Magpies kicked off their top-flight campaign with a home contest against newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and came away with all three points.

The game remained goalless until the hour mark, but Fabian Schar eventually broke the deadlock with an eye-catching effort from distance, before Callum Wilson wrapped up the points with his side's second goal 12 minutes from time.

The Magpies would then travel to take on Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend and returned home with a point following a goalless draw, largely thanks to Pope's heroics between the sticks.

Howe has plenty to be pleased about, with his side yet to concede in two top-flight outings and having won eight of their last nine home league matches spanning back to February, but both of those records will certainly be put to the test on Sunday as the defending champions arrive looking to make it three wins from three games.

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After a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield, Pep Guardiola's side began their bid for a third straight league title and a fifth in the last six seasons with a trip to West Ham United on the opening day.

Erling Braut Haaland marked his league debut with a goal from the penalty spot to put them ahead in the 35th minute, and the Norwegian would go on to hit his and the Citizens' second to ensure they returned home with all three points.

They then welcomed newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium last weekend, and Ilkay Gundugan, who was the hero in their title-securing win over Aston Villa on the final day of last season with a late brace, gave the Citizens the lead after 19 minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne made it two on the half-hour mark, before Phil Foden capped off a rampant first-half performance with their third of the afternoon six minutes later, and, followng a second-half own goal from Jefferson Lerma, Guardiola's men came away with a 4-0 victory.

Now sitting as one of just two sides with six points from the first two league outings, Manchester City will look to quickly establish a lead at the top of the division with another triumph at the weekend.

Team News

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Newcastle United remain without midfielder Jonjo Shelvey through injury, while Matt Targett, Ryan Fraser and Emil Krafth will have to be assessed prior to the game.

Summer signing Sven Botman will again partner Fabian Schar at the heart of a back four, with Dan Burn set to stay at left-back if Targett is not deemed fit to come straight back in.

Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton remain key men in midfield alongside Joe Willock, while Callum Wilson should continue to be preferred over Chris Wood up front.

Guardiola will again be unable to call on centre-back Aymeric Laporte due to an injury, meaning Nathan Ake should keep his place alongside Ruben Dias unless John Stones is given a chance to start at St James' Park.

Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan have operated in a three-man midfield in both league games thus far and should continue their partnership behind talismanic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

The Citizens could continue to rotate their attacking options, with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva all battling to flank striker Erling Braut Haaland.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Almiron, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Willock, Saint-Maximin; Wilson

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden

We say: Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City

Newcastle United have excelled at home this calendar year and will have confidence from their positive start to the season, but we see Sunday's contest being a step too far.

The Citizens have picked up where they left off last season and should dominate the ball and create enough chances for the likes of Haaland and Foden to fire them to victory.

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