Pep Guardiola Hails Manchester City After 18th Consecutive Win vs. Newcastle

Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City side for always finding a way to win after they earned an 18th successive Premier League victory by beating Newcastle United 1-0 at St. James' Park on Wednesday. 

After scoring four goals in their three preceding victories against Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City, Newcastle's ultra-defensive approach made things difficult for the Sky Blues.

But Raheem Sterling's goal just after the half-hour mark meant City claimed all three points, and Guardiola was pleased with his side's ability to win in differing scenarios, per The Independent:

"As a manager, I have to adapt my team to convince them. In these 18 games, we have played against teams who have done high pressing, low pressing, counter-attacks, just set pieces, just like Tottenham who tried to go forward and attack, and in all of them, we have been able to beat them.

"The magnificent thing about football and any manager of any team is they can play any way. Teams can try to trick you, but you have to be able to beat them and until now we have been able to do that. Until now, we have found a way to win." 

City are now 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.

They could equal the European record for longest winning streaks—set by Guardiola's Bayern Munich—if they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Roy Hodgson's Eagles are in a fine spell of form.

They looked set to face a fierce relegation battle after losing their first seven games of the 2017-18 campaign.

Palace are far from safe yet, but they have moved up to 16th after going eight games unbeaten since a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on November 5.

Hodgson has tightened up Palace's previously dire defence, and the south London outfit will need to produce an impeccable rearguard display if they are to have any chance of stopping City's run.

However, even if the Eagles play their best match of the season, they could still lose to Guardiola's superlative City side.

As highlighted by the Spanish manager, the Sky Blues have won in many different fashions this season, and it is still unclear when and where they may drop points.