Premier League: City Face True Title Test on Tyneside

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

The final international break has been and gone, and that means unadulterated Premier League action all the way through between now and mid-March. How the table fares then compared to now will be telling. But as it stands, this is the position.

Newcastle United are shining in Europe but struggling to juggle the schedule with their domestic commitments and currently find themselves in 14^th position – amazingly just two points clear of the relegation zone (not that is a genuine concern for the Tynesiders).

Meanwhile, after a very slow start, Manchester City are delivering Premier League 2025 highlights, are up to second, and have some momentum.

Are they ready to launch another title tilt? The result of this weekend could well answer that question.

 

Talking Points

Following four successive league titles, City certainly are being talked about as title contenders once again after their brutal dismissal of Liverpool last time out.

No doubt Pep Guardiola will be tempted to stick with the same line-up from that encounter

He will have to make do without Mateo Kovacic for a while as the midfielder is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while fellow midfielder Rodri is also a doubt.

One man they can’t be without is goal machine Erling Haaland, who is one away from his 100th Premier League goal and 15th of the season for his club.

Newcastle have absentees of their own, including defender Dan Burn, who is suspended following his dismissal against Brentford last time out.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope (concussion) and Joelinton (shin) were both forced off in that game and were not fit enough to represent their countries over the international break. Summer signing Yoane Wissa (knee) is yet to make his debut for the club, while Anthony Gordon (hip) will be among those assessed.

That will mean Nick Woltemade, who scored three goals in two games on international duty with Germany, will lead the line once again.

The League Cup holders are a very different beast at home when they can get the passionate Geordies behind them, and that is why I feel this could go either way.

That statistic, plus the fact that City have only triumphed in two of their opening five league matches on the road this term, adds weight to that viewpoint.

 

History

This fixture was, in my view, the one that made City champions two seasons ago.

Trailing the Geordies on Tyneside with less than 20 minutes remaining, even a draw would have seen Guardiola’s men slip further behind in the title race.

Instead, they displayed the true hallmarks of champions on a cold January night when two things stood out.

Firstly, the return of Kevin de Bruyne – missing virtually the first half of the campaign to that point – added composure and a touch of class just when they needed it most.

Secondly, the poise of young Oscar Bobb, in stoppage time, highlighted another young player at the club coming through the ranks with character to match talent.

The rest is very much history as a fourth successive title was secured.

City also beat Newcastle 1-0 at home in the league that season when Julian Alvarez was the scorer.

Last season was different as a Gordon penalty cancelled out Josko Gvardiol’s opener in a 1-1 draw on Tyneside.

The return game did go the way of City, 4-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium, in which then new boy Omar Marmoush grabbed a hat-trick and was joined on the scoresheet by James McAtee.

That meant City have won nine of the last 11 league meetings, Newcastle have only beaten City once on Tyneside in the league since 2005. That was in January 2019 when second-half goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie (penalty) sealed a 2-1 victory.

Overall, Newcastle have beaten City 73 times, six behind their 79 victories, while there have been a further 42 draws.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League 2025 betting odds edge towards City, priced 1X2 @ 1.98 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.26 which, to me, is great value.

So are odds on the home side, both 1X2 @ 3.33 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.21.

A draw is on offer 3.38 and a re-run of last season’s contest, Correct Score 1-1, will pay out @ 6.70 which is my *** tip.

I couldn’t think of a goalless draw between the sides and, sure enough, my research showed me the last one was in 2006 which may go some way to explaining why Total Goal 0-1 is priced @ 3.72. Other goal bets include Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.03, 4-6 @ 2.88 and Over 3.00 @ 2.17.

   

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