Newcastle United face top of the league Manchester City on Saturday, which is where the Magpies could have gone last week.
Eddie Howe’s side had a brief chance to sit top of the Premier League. All Newcastle United had to do was beat Fulham at Craven Cottage – a ground where they had won their last five games.
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Alas, the Magpies did not win. Newcastle were awful against Fulham, and fell to a 3-1 defeat.
It was the first loss of the season for Eddie Howe, with Alan Shearer criticising Newcastle’s lack of intensity. Finally the performance matched the result, with the Magpies overachieving in the opening weeks of the season.
Now they prepare to face Manchester City, who they have not beaten in the Premier League since January 2019.
Chris Sutton believes Newcastle’s terrible record against Manchester City will continue this weekend, despite admitting that the Magpies have performed well against Pep Guardiola’s side in recent years.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James’ Park on January 13, 2…
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
The former Blackburn Rovers striker has told BBC Sport that he thinks Manchester City will beat Newcastle United 3-1 at St James’ Park on Saturday.
“Newcastle’s performances have not been there all season but they have been picking up results, most of the time,” he said.
“They could have gone top for a few hours last weekend, had they not lost at Fulham after a disappointing performance.
“They have given Manchester City a good game at St James’ Park in the past couple of years but, given their current form and the fact they are yet to click, I am not sure this game will be as close.
“City are without Rodri but I still think they will win comfortably. Of course they will miss him, but they have players who are capable of stepping in.”
Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s record against Newcastle
As Sutton says, Manchester City will be without Rodri on Saturday.
The 28-year-old has suffered a serious knee injury, and he could miss the rest of the season. It is unclear when he will be fit again, but he will definitely not feature at St James’ Park this weekend.
Whether or not that gives the Magpies an advantage remains to be seen, but Newcastle have found Manchester City to be pretty much unstoppable since Rodri joined the club in the summer of 2019.
Since signing for Man City, Rodri has appeared in every Premier League game against Newcastle United. During that period, Man City have won eight and drawn two.
During Rodri’s time with Manchester City, they have only lost once against Newcastle. That came in last season’s Carabao Cup, when Alexander Isak scored in a 1-0 win for Newcastle. Interestingly, Rodri was not in the Man City squad that night…
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