Following their 6-0 dismantling of West Ham United in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, Manuel Pellegrini’s City side face a trip up to St James’ Park.
Man City haven’t lost away from from home since their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland back in early November, while Newcastle have won 3 of their last five home matches.
Team News
Mathieu Debuchy remains suspended for the hosts, while Yohan Cabaye and Tim Krul face late fitness tests.
Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas face late fitness tests for City, while Kun Aguero is still out with a calf injury.
Interesting Stats
Newcastle United have lost their last eight games against Manchester City.
Manchester City are unbeaten against the Magpies in their last 14 Premier League meetings.
Key Players
Cheick Tiote vs Fernandinho
The Ivory Coast international seems to have got the form he had when Newcastle just missed out on Champions League qualification back in the 2011/2012 season, where he formed an excellent partnership with Yohan Cabaye in central midfield, much like their partnership this season.
Defensively, Cheick Tiote has been the rock in midfield, letting Cabaye be the creative outlet in the side. Tiote has totalled 64 tackles in 17 Premier League appearances, successfully tackling his opponents 65.6% of the time. The Cote d’Ivoire international is currently averaging 7 minutes per ground duel, and 39 minutes per aerial duel, from a total of 34 aerial duels.
Manchester City’s summer signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, however, is averaging 46 minutes per aerial duel, but has a 85% rate from 34 aerial duels, compared to Tiote’s 50%. The Brazilian midfielder is averaging a ground duel every 8 minutes, and has totalled 56 tackles – a tackle every 28 minutes, compared to Tiote’s average of a tackle every 21 minutes.
Both midfielders have the talent of being able to read the game with a good positional sense, resulting in Tiote and Fernandinho acquiring 37 and 47 interceptions respectively.
Creatively, Fernandinho is miles ahead of his midfield counterpart. The former Shakhtar midfielder has created 23 chances for his team-mates, supplying two goal assists, creating a chance every 68 minutes; while Tiote has created just seven chances, creating a chance every 190 minutes.
Fernandinho is starting to justify his excessive transfer fee, accumulating a number of man of the match awards in his last few games, and scoring three goals so far this season, the Brazilian is proving to be an all-round midfielder.
Winner Betting
Last five meetings:
19/8/13 – Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United
30/3/13 – Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United
15/12/12 – Newcastle United 1-3 Manchester City
6/5/12 – Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City
19/11/11 – Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United
This game points to a Manchester City win, which is available at 7/10 at Winner.com, or if you like value, Alvaro Negredo to score first at 7/2, simply open an account with Winner.com and place a bet, and you will get a free bet worth up to £25.
Prediction: Newcastle United 1-3 Manchester City – odds: 12/1 at Winner.comÂ
