Man City vs Newcastle: Pep Guardiola out To Take Advantage in EPL Title Race After Liverpool's Slipup

Man City vs Newcastle: Pep Guardiola out To Take Advantage in EPL Title Race After Liverpool's Slipup

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:01 PM
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  • League leaders Manchester City are scheduled to host Newcastle United on Sunday, May 8, at the Etihad Stadium
  • City will be looking to bounce back to winning ways from their recent Champions League heartbreak
  • Pep Guardiola's men were eliminated from the European competition on a 6-5 goal aggregate by Real Madrid
  • The Premier League is now the only competition the Citizens will be challenging for having also been dumped out of the FA Cup

Manchester City will be keen to put their Champions League heartbreak behind them when they host Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, May 8.

The clash comes just days after the Citizens were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaks to the media at Manchester City Football Academy. Photo by Matt McNulty.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaks to the media at Manchester City Football Academy. Photo by Matt McNulty.
Source: Getty Images

Despite having a slight edge over Real in the tie, Pep Guardiola's men were dumped out of the European competition on a 6-5 goal aggregate.

Match Preview

City will now have their full attention on the Premier League title which they are keen to retain at the end of the season.

The Etihad landlords have Liverpool hot on their heels in their push to reclaim the crown, with the two English giants currently tied on 83 points.

However, City have a chance of taking a three-point advantage over the Reds after Jurgen Klopp's charges dropped points against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, May 7.

The Merseysiders were held to a 1-1 frustrating draw by the north Londoners to give City a slight advantage in the title race.

City will be full of confidence ahead of their encounter with Newcastle, having lost only once in 28 meetings with the Magpies.

Team News

The duo Kyle Walker and John Stones are major doubts with respective ankle and muscle injuries.

In the absence of Walker, Joao Cancelo could switch over to the right, with either Nathan Ake or Oleksandr Zinchenko moving to the left.

In the Newcastle camp, Ryan Fraser, Isaac Hayden, Jamal Lewis and Fabian Schar are all unavailable due to injury.

However, Eddie Howe has been boosted with the return of Callum Wison who has been on the sidelines for four months.

Possible lineups

Man City:

Ederson; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne; Sterling, Foden, Jack Grealish

Newcastle United:

Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Burn, Targett; Willock, Shelvey, Guimaraes; Almiron, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin

Man City backed to retain EPL title

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Peter Crouch and Rio Ferdinand have both backed Manchester City to win the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool.

Liverpool missed out on a chance to momentarily go top of the Premier League standings after their 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

The result also handed Manchester City a slight edge in the title race as they have an opportunity of going three points clear when they meet Newcastle.

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Fred Kennedy
Editor - Europe Team
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Etihad StadiumPep Guardiola