Manchester City should head into Saturday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United feeling slightly more refreshed than usual, after several senior players were given the night off against Bristol City. Pep Guardiola’s men won 3-0 at Ashton Gate on Wednesday night, with Phil Foden netting a brace and Kevin De Bruyne scoring a superb third in the latter stages. Kyle Walker, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland were all unused substitutes in the FA Cup fifth-round win, while Jack Grealish only played the final 20 minutes. But the Blues did pick up another injury against Bristol City, with Stefan Ortega having to be replaced at half-time after he sustained a hand injury, with Ederson coming in to replace the German.
Manchester City will be bidding to make it three straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 success over Bristol City in the FA Cup, which secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition. The Citizens, who were 4-1 winners at Bournemouth in the league last weekend, are second in the table, two points behind leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Here, Sports Mole rounds up their latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Newcastle, who lost to Manchester United in the EFL Cup final last weekend.
John Stones has been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Arsenal on January 27, but he has a chance of being back in the squad for this one. Aymeric Laporte has been absent for Man City’s last three matches due to an illness, but the centre-back is expected to be back in the fold against the Magpies. Man City’s number two goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is a major doubt for this match due to the hand injury that forced him off at the interval of the clash with Bristol City on Tuesday.
Manchester City and Newcastle United are two of the most popular teams in English football, and they often face each other in the Premier League. It’s been a while since these two teams have faced off, but it’s always fun to witness their games. Manchester City is one of the most successful teams in the Premier League and still fighting for top spot against Arsenal this season, while Newcastle United, on the other hand, has struggled in recent years, but this season they are doing exceptionally well and they still have a loyal fan base and are looking to pull off an upset against their more illustrious opponents this time for sure.
The “mood in the locker room is exceptional,” according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, as his side battles Arsenal for the Premier League championship. In addition to being pleased with the way City are performing, Guardiola predicts that some points will be dropped between now and the end of the season. Erling Haaland has become one of the most sought-after young players in the world due to his impressive goal-scoring record and physical attributes. The striker is keen to increase his goal total after scoring 26 goals in the Premier League so far this season. For the defenders of the visiting team, Haaland will prove to be a difficult opponent to contain.
Almiron from Newcastle has been an important player for Eddie Howe’s side this year, stepping up and becoming a vital part of their setup. The Paraguayan midfielder is Newcastle’s leading scorer this season with 10 goals in the Premier League alone. He also got the equaliser in their most recent game against Bournemouth. Almiron has impressed with his consistently strong performances for the Magpies, and he might hold the secret to their victory in this match.
