Newcastle United and Manchester City have all the ingredients needed to conjure up an exciting game on Tuesday night at St. James’ Park. The kick-off is set to 19:45 and both teams will be fighting for different aspirations.
The Magpies will look to build on their impressive 3-0 home win against Swansea City in their last outing and will be counting on huge support from the Geordie faithful in the stands. Rafa Benitez wants his second win as Newcastle manager, but will be forced to do so without club captain Fabricio Coloccini and Dutch right-back Daryl Janmaat, who are both sidelined through injury. Fan favorite Jamaal Lascelles and the versatile Vurnon Anita are the likely replacements for them and truth be said, maybe it’s better this way, both had solid games last Saturday.
Benitez has said that he is still not sure about his line-up for tomorrow night. Jonjo Shelvey and Alexandar Mitrovic could be back starting, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The partnership of Cheick Tiote and Jack Colback gives more protection to the defense. I can only envisage Shelvey starting tomorrow if Rafa elects to drop Georginio Wijnaldum. Since he has been disappointing in the last few matches, maybe Rafa is considering it. In Mitrovic’s case, he’s having more success as an impact sub, so I would still use him this way and keep Cisse starting. He’s still a capable scorer when he has opportunities.
To win this game the Magpies will need to play close to perfection; be organized throughout and take advantage from set pieces. Man City are in a very good form, so it will not be easy but nothing is impossible.
On the other hand, Manchester City are enjoying a really nice run. Their last game against Chelsea was great, taking advantage of a lot of counter-attacking opportunities. Kevin De Bruyne was the man leading those attacks and he’s really dangerous in this role. Sergio Aguero, as we all know, is deadly finishing those opportunities. Another bright point from their last game was Yaya Toure. He played at his best, setting the pace and distributing the ball well.
The way the Citizens played against Chelsea is really the perfect way to earn a win at St James’ Park tomorrow – a very organized team on defense with devasting counter attacks.
Pellegrini will be without Sagna, Clichy, Silva and Nasri due to injury, but he will have Kompany and Sterling available. Whether they play remains to be seen, but looking forward to their next challenges on Premier League and Champions League, it’s very probable they play some minutes against Newcastle. With those games in mind too, Pellegrini may choose to rest Toure.
Newcastle have played some of their best football against the league’s better opposition this season, so this gives us hope. But this Manchester City are devastating on the counter and will be ready to tear the Magpies apart if they are not at the races.
Probable Newcastle United line-up (4-2-3-1):
Darlow; Anita – Lascelles – Mbemba – Dummett; Tiote – Colback; Townsend – Wijnaldum (Shelvey) – Sissoko; Cisse (Mitrovic)
Probable Manchester City line-up (4-4-2):
Hart; Zabaleta – Kompany – Otamendi (Mangala) – Kolarov; Navas – Fernandinho – Fernando ( Toure) – De Bruyne; Iheanacho – Aguero
Prediction: Newcastle 1-3 Manchester City
