Newcastle vs Man City preview
Watch match highlights at 5.15pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app
Friday 29 November 2019 17:09, UK
Team news, key stats and prediction ahead of Newcastle vs Manchester City in the Premier League (kick-off 12.30pm).
Team news
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce could be without wing-back DeAndre Yedlin as he battles a hip problem, while midfielder Matt Ritchie will not play again until the end of January after undergoing a second operation to repair the ankle damage he suffered in a challenge by Leicester's Hamza Choudhury back in August.
There are no other injuries in the Magpies squad with Sean Longstaff available again after his three-match suspension for a red card against Wolves in October.
Manchester City are still without record goalscorer Sergio Aguero, who suffered a thigh injury in last week's defeat of Chelsea.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva is back in Premier League action after serving a one-match domestic suspension.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko remains on the sidelines after minor knee surgery while centre-back Aymeric Laporte and winger Leroy Sane (both knee) are long-term casualties.
How to follow
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- Newcastle are looking to secure back-to-back Premier League victories over Man City for the first time since November 2003, having won this exact fixture 2-1 back in January.
- Manchester City have found the net in each of their last 21 Premier League games against Newcastle (54 goals in total), winning 18 (D2 L1). Only against Fulham (22) have they had a longer scoring streak in the competition.
- Newcastle are unbeaten in five home league games since defeat against Arsenal on the opening weekend (W2 D3). Only Leicester (3) have conceded fewer home goals in the Premier League this season than the Magpies (4).
- Manchester City have scored at least once in each of their last 17 Premier League away games, and are one of just two sides to have netted in 100% of their away league games this season, along with Liverpool.
- Manchester City have conceded the first goal in each of their last three Premier League games, though they've come back to win two of those (L1). They last conceded first in more games in a row back in March/April 2012 (5).
- Manchester City are averaging a shot on target faced every 24 minutes in the Premier League this season, their worst ratio in the competition since 2010-11 (also one every 24 minutes). Last season, they faced a shot on target every 41 minutes on average.
- Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero has scored 15 goals in 13 Premier League appearances against Newcastle - more than any player has scored against an opponent for a single club in the competition's history.
- Newcastle's Miguel Almirón has had more shots without scoring than any other Premier League player this season (22). Indeed, the Paraguayan is waiting for his first-ever goal in the competition (23 games, 41 shots, 13 on target).
- Man City's Gabriel Jesus has scored seven goals in his last eight Premier League starts, including three in four so far this term.
- Man City's Riyad Mahrez has scored 49 Premier League goals, netting the winner for City against Chelsea last time out. He could become the 110th overall, ninth African and first Algerian player to reach 50 in the competition.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
Manchester City are unconvincing, but the same can be said of Liverpool. At this time of the year, with the fixture congestion and the confusion of injuries, you never know. Ederson is back, which is a big positive for City, although the full-backs are worrying and concerning, as are the centre-backs.
Newcastle have the togetherness and fighting spirit, and every now and again, they will come in with a good result. Steve Bruce needs to speak to Mike Ashley in January. Everyone dislikes Ashley, but can he help the manager? Bruce needs help because if they survive under his control, it might be even more valuable. This opens up the option, by the time summer comes, to sell the club.
You live and hope but I can only see Man City winning this one. I don't see it being stylish and it will be a day of frustration. But they will pick off Newcastle nevertheless, who will not want to lose by too many. I have nothing but compliments for the way Bruce goes about his business. This one is a free swing but he knows if they loosen up they could lose four or five and goal difference could be valuable.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 0-2 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
Fantasy Football
Kevin de Bruyne (£11.2m) is the highest scoring midfielder in Fantasy Football with 82 points, 11 of those coming in the match against Chelsea thanks to a goal and man-of-the-match award.
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