Man City vs. Newcastle: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Manchester City host Newcastle United on Saturday looking to use their last-ditch win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday to return to winning ways in the Premier League.
City's last league match saw them lose 4-1 away at Tottenham Hotspur—the heaviest defeat of the Sheikh Mansour era—and their 2-1 loss at home to West Ham United before that has left them desperately needing a win to get them back on track.
Manuel Pellegrini's side had won their first five league games of the season, racing out in front of their rivals and looking like clear favourites to win the title, but their two league defeats on the spin has altered the picture somewhat.
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Newcastle lie 19th in the Premier League table after a difficult start, but their 2-2 draw with Chelsea last weekend suggested they have more to offer than have so far shown.
Manager Steve McClaren, who never lost to City in eight matches as Middlesbrough boss, added some real quality to his squad over the summer, but his new signings are yet to really jell.
Their strike pairing of Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic looks to have genuine potential, and they are capable of hurting City. McClaren was surely buoyed by City's defending against Gladbach in midweek that, at times, was awful.
"Don't miss a kick of #cityvnufc! Global TV listings for tomorrow's clash: http://t.co/u85pyQVKdG pic.twitter.com/eAop2p3Btb
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 2, 2015"
Date: Saturday, October 3
Kick-off: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
TV Listings: NBCSN (US)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (US)
Form Guide (last 5 results)
City
Gladbach 1-2 City (Champions League)
Tottenham 4-1 City
Sunderland 1-4 City (League Cup)
City 1-2 West Ham
City 1-2 Juventus (Champions League)
Newcastle
Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday (League Cup)
Newcastle 1-2 Watford
West Ham 2-0 Newcastle
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Predicted Formations
City
Pellegrini is again without a host of key players, including Vincent Kompany, whose calf injury continues to keep him confined to the sidelines. Yaya Toure also misses out, as will Fabian Delph, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri who are all still receiving treatment.
The good news for the City boss is the return of Wilfried Bony, Kelechi Iheanacho and Eliaquim Mangala.
"Trio return but @YayaToure ruled out of @NUFC clash tomorrow. Team news: http://t.co/3JwWjrNrwq #MCFC pic.twitter.com/t36UQ84Xql
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 2, 2015"
Lineup from: Caballero, Hart, Wright, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Roberts, Silva, Toure, Zuculini, Aguero, Bony, Sterling.
Newcastle
Jack Colback is a doubt for the game with a calf problem, and Gabriel Obertan, Rolando Aarons and Massadio Haidara will all miss out through injury. Cheick Tiote could be back in contention.
"GALLERY: Take a look at the best images from training ahead of the trip to @MCFC. http://t.co/0sFv6CDkfD #NUFC pic.twitter.com/GrRioa6X0q
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 2, 2015"
Lineup from: Darlow, Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Good, Janmaat, Lascelles, Mbabu, Mbemba, Williamson, Aarons, Anita, Bigirimana, Colback, De Jong, Gouffran, Marveaux, Obertan, Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Cisse, Mitrovic, Perez, Toney.
"SMc: "We are getting closer. We are progressing. Last week was encouraging, both on and off the pitch." #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 2, 2015"
"McClaren confirmed that Gabriel Obertan, Rolando Aarons and Massadio Haidara are all out, while Jack Colback (hamstring) is a doubt. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 2, 2015"
Players to Watch
City: Nicolas Otamendi
It's been a mixed start to his City career for Nicolas Otamendi. The man labelled the best defender in La Liga last season has come into the City team at a turbulent time, with their defence all at sea in the absence of Kompany.
He's shown flashes of brilliance. Against West Ham and Sunderland, his aggressive style of defending caught the eye and suggested City had themselves a top-quality defender capable of adapting quickly to the rigours of the Premier League. However, at Spurs and Gladbach, he looked shaky and positionally unaware.
He needs a big game. City have looked too open at the back in recent matches, and Newcastle could exploit that on Saturday given the chance.
Newcastle: Georginio Wijnaldum
Last season's Dutch Footballer of the Year, Georginio Wijnaldum, may still be adjusting to the Premier League, but he is clearly a player with talent and ability.
The attacking midfielder, signed from PSV Eindhoven for close to £15 million, is a player who always appears to have time on the ball, and he has the technical quality needed to create chances for his team-mates.
He's beginning to settle into the side, demonstrating his dribbling and passing ability more often. He already has two league goals—the latest coming against Chelsea last week.
City need to pay close attention to him.
Key Battle: David Silva vs. Cheick Tiote
David Silva is the key to City's best attacking moments, and reducing his impact in a game remains the best way of stopping the Blues.
Tiote is the man most likely to be given the job of stopping the Spaniard, particularly given Colback could miss out through injury. He's just returning from injury, and in truth, he was struggling for form before his layoff. Silva could run riot if the Newcastle man fails to get back to his best immediately.
Odds (via Odds Shark):
City: -556
Newcastle: +1200
Draw: +550
".@Notamendi30 is the cover star of the #cityvnufc match programme. Pick-up your copy at the game! #mcfc pic.twitter.com/xQ489g9Ean
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 2, 2015"
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
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