Pep Guardiola: Manchester City Boss Curiously Names Another Premier League Title Contender Apart From Arsenal

• Pep Guardiola has said that Newcastle are a contender for the Premier League title this season
• Newcastle have made a phenomenal start to the season and sit fourth in the table after 13 matches
• Guardiola has praised Eddie Howe and how he has built his side, and he expects them to contend

Even though Manchester City are the favourite to win the Premier League for the fifth time in the last six years, City manager Pep Guardiola has said there is a dark horse in the race.

Guardiola showered praise on Newcastle United, who are surprising everyone with their phenomenal season so far.

Newcastle currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and have produced some of the best performances this season.

The Magpies are above the giants such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, and have been tipped to clinch a top-four spot in a race that should be one for the ages, according to ESPN.

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Guardiola wary of Newcastle

The City boss is known for his mind games but this time, he seemed genuinely concerned about Newcastle's threat to their league title defence, after City produced a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leicester City.

"Phewww, they are a contender, a contender to be there. The manager is Eddie Howe and you know how good he is. With the new players that come… and the way they play, brave," he said according to MEN.

Guardiola warned that the Magpies are a dangerous team.

"I see the physicality we faced, we played them [Newcastle] in the third game of the season. Imagine this team Newcastle with one game a week, with no European competition?"

Newcastle thumped Aston Villa 4-0 this past weekend and have the best defence in the league, conceding just 11 goals this season. Eddie Howe's side are now unbeaten in eight league games this season.

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So far, Arsenal are City's closest competitor after a terrific start to the season. They are top of the table, two points ahead of City after 12 games.

Newcastle tipped for seventh

Sports Brief earlier reported on a supercomputer predicting Pep Guardiola's Manchester City Premier League win ahead of Arsenal.

The supercomputer predicted that Newcastle will finish seventh this season, which would be enough for a spot in the Europa Conference League.

Newcastle's last best finish was during the 2011/12 season, where they finished fifth with 65 points.