Magpies meet City: goals galore?

Newcastle United caused a major surprise in the Premier League with a thumping win at Sheffield United. The last time NUFC won by such an amount was in 1999 against Sheffield Wednesday – also then with an 8:0 score. Now the cup match against Manchester City is on the agenda this week.

In the round of 32, the Magpies are by no means the clear underdogs after their strong performance in the Premier League. The best bookmakers, meanwhile, are confident of NUFC progressing to the next round and are offering odds of up to 2.75 on the hosts for a Newcastle vs Manchester City bet.

Because the EFL Cup is not a particularly prestigious event for the Premier League clubs, it stands to reason that both teams will be sparing some of their key players. It is possible that the Magpies will have less rotation. Newcastle even reached the final of the League Cup last season.

The Black and Whites of Newcastle have not won a match against the Sky Blues of Manchester since January 2019. In their last ten H2hs, the Magpies stand at a meagre record of 0-2-8. Nevertheless, our Newcastle vs Manchester City prediction does not rule out a surprise from the Saudi club.

Newcastle – Statistics & current form

Newcastle United showed an act of defiance in the English top flight after a number of setbacks in recent weeks, winning their most recent league game 8-0 against Sheffield United. Not only did the Magpies keep their clean sheet for the third successive season, but they also celebrated their highest league win since 1999 – when a Sheffield club also came unstuck.

If NUFC carry the momentum from the Premier League with them, the Black and Whites should also be confident of a win against Manchester City in the League Cup. The Magpies will not be hiding against the supposed favourites from Manchester, especially as Newcastle were unbeaten the last time City visited.

However, it should also be noted that Newcastle have not won a home game against Manchester City since January 2019. If the negative streak now ends in the last 32 of the 2023/24 EFL Cup, Newcastle vs Manchester City betting odds of 2.75 are available for a tip on the hosts NUFC.

Will the Magpies defensive bulwark keep the City attack at bay?

The defensive performance of the black and whites will set the tone for this. In the last three home duels against the Himmelblauen, NUFC have always conceded at least three goals. It therefore remains to be seen how the Magpies’ defensive line will perform this time against Manchester City. However, bets on over 2.5 goals are obvious.

Head coach Eddie Howe is only expected to be without four players for the cup match against the Citizens due to injury. Whether changes will be made to the starting eleven after the power display against Sheffield in the cup remains uncertain, but rotation cannot be ruled out.

By the way: There were eight different scorers in the game against Sheffield United.

Predicted Newcastle line-up:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Isak, Gordon

Manchester City – Statistics & current form

Manchester City, like Newcastle United, came through the last matchday in the Premier League unscathed. The Citizens celebrated a 2-0 victory over Nottingham and thus extended their lead in the English top flight. It was City’s eighth success in a row in a competition.

Nevertheless, there are betting odds of 2.47 on the visitors in the cup match between Newcastle and Manchester City. The H2h is in favour of the Sky Blues, but it is still risky to make a prediction on City. It remains to be seen with what attitude Pep Guardiola’s team will go into the League Cup.

Guardiola has not won the EFL Cup since 2020/21. In the last two seasons, the best result in the League Cup was a quarter-final appearance in 2022/23. It was only against Southampton that City surprisingly had to pull out of the competition.

Is Guardiola firing up the rotation machine?

For Manchester City, the League Cup match against Newcastle United is the third competitive game in a week. It would therefore be all the more surprising if Pep Guardiola were to go into the match against NUFC with his best line-up. City are likely to rest a number of key players, possibly including goal-scorer Haaland.

There is room for rotation in the broad squad of the Himmelblauen, especially in the offensive. It is possible that Julian Alvarez – who has been playing at wing-back – will be preferred in the 4-2-3-1, while Grealish could take over his position. The Englishman was only used as a wild card last weekend.

With De Bruyne, Kovacic, Silva and Stones, four players will miss the cup match. Rodrigo – who was sent off last weekend – will be available.

Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gomes; Nunes, Phillips; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland

Newcastle – Manchester City Direct Comparison / H2H Record

This is the 190th time the two clubs have met. City lead the H2h against Newcastle with a record of 76-41-72. The Citizens have not lost to the Magpies in their last ten meetings. City have actually won eight of those ten matches, including their most recent two league encounters in the Premier League.

Just under a month ago, Manchester City edged out NUFC 1-0 in the league. It was the second consecutive H2h in which the Sky Blues kept their clean sheet against Newcastle.

Newcastle – Manchester City Tip

Newcastle showed an act of defiance with a thumping win over Sheffield United. In the weeks before, the Magpies were still stumbling and sometimes conceded three defeats in a row in the Premier League. The emphatic win against Sheffield United was a liberating blow for NUFC, who also gained self-confidence ahead of the cup match against City.

Wednesday night is the showdown against the Sky Blues. A month ago, Newcastle lost to City in the Premier League. However, the Magpies did not give in without a fight. A close match is therefore also likely in the EFL Cup.

We don’t rule out a surprise for the Magpies and dare a moderate bet of three units on Newcastle vs. Manchester City. In the last two seasons, City had to give up early in the League Cup. It would therefore not be surprising if this time the cup adventure in the EFL Cup ends in the third round.