Newcastle vs Manchester City: line-ups, stats and preview

Newcastle-Manchester City match preview

Eddie Howe believes Manchester City constitutes the country’s toughest test over two matches as they attempt to chart a course past Pep Guardiola in the EFL Cup semi-final.

Cup holders Newcastle City host tomorrow night in the first leg at St James’ Park and Howe is expecting a tough test.

He said: “The natural preference is for the home game to be the second leg just because you have a clear understanding of what you need to do and you have the crowd behind you, but it’s not like that this time.

“We need to use the home crowd to our advantage in the first game and try to do everything we can to try and come out on top in the tie. We really enjoyed the two-legged semi-final format last year. It will be a totally different challenge.

“Manchester City are the toughest team in the country to play over two matches. Pep [Guardiola] we will have something ready for us tactically and we will have to do our best to get through.

Guardiola named a surprisingly strong side for the FA Cup third round victory over Exeter on Saturday, and they took full advantage by beating the League One side 10-1, but Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gianluigi Donnarumma were all rested.

Foden and Silva are likely to return tomorrow night and Howe admits it is difficult to know what plans Guardiola will have in place.

He added: “They are a difficult team to prepare because they change and modify their tactical configuration a lot. They are missing a few players.

“They are a difficult team to read and know how to plan and prepare to play against. But we will have our plans in place and our priority will always be ourselves, what we can do and how we can hurt them. It is important in the home game that we are ourselves and give our best.”

Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy last season by winning the EFL Cup, beating Liverpool in the final after beating Arsenal in the last four.

“We are very proud to have won the competition last year,” Howe said. “We look back on the experience we had with pride and positivity, especially the semi-final against Arsenal. It was brilliant execution by the players and professionalism. We learned a lot and we will need that experience for this match.”

City’s last domestic defeat came at St James’ Park, a controversial 2-1 victory for the home side in November. Since then, they have won nine of their 13 matches in all competitions and are favorites to qualify for a final against Arsenal or Chelsea.

Team news for Newcastle vs Manchester City

Newcastle have several injury problems, particularly in defense, with Tino Livramento the latest player to be struck. He joins Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles on the sidelines.

Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy could make the team but will not dislodge Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon from the starting XI.

City are also short at the back with Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones missing.

New recruit Antoine Semenyo should make his second start.

Predicted line-ups for Newcastle vs Manchester City

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Botman, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali; Barnes, Gordon, Woltemade

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva, Reijnders; Foden, Semenyo, Haaland

How to watch Newcastle vs Manchester City: TV and online streams

Newcastle v Manchester City kicks off tomorrow evening at 8pm UK time. You can watch it on Sky Sports Main Event and ITV1.

It can also be streamed on the Sky Go app and the ITVX app.

For viewers outside the UK, click HERE…

Statistics for Newcastle vs. Manchester City

• This is Manchester City’s first EFL Cup semi-final since their fourth consecutive League Cup triumph in the 2020-21 season.
• Newcastle have won 10 and drawn three in their last 13 matches at St James’ Park