Newcastle v Manchester City: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for Newcastle v Manchester City

Eddie Howe believes Manchester City provide the hardest test in the country over two legs as he attempts to plot a route past Pep Guardiola in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

Cup holders Newcastle host City tomorrow night in the first leg at St James’ Park and Howe is anticipating a tough test.

He said: ”The natural preference is for the home game to be the second leg just because you have a clear understanding of what you need to do and you have the home crowd behind you but it’s not like that this time.

“We need to use the home crowd to our advantage in the first game and try to do everything to try and impose ourselves on the tie. We really enjoyed the two-legged semi-final format last year. This is going to be a totally different challenge.

“Manchester City are the hardest team in the country to play over two legs. Pep [Guardiola] will have something ready for us tactically and we will have to be at our best to get through.”

Guardiola named a surprisingly strong team for the FA Cup third-round win over Exeter on Saturday, and they took full advantage by beating the League One side 10-1, but the likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gianluigi Donnarumma were all rested.

Foden and Silva are likely to return tomorrow night and Howe admits it is tough to know what plans Guardiola will have in place.

He added: ”They are a difficult team to prepare for because they change and tinker a lot with the tactical set up they have. They have got a few players missing.

“They are a difficult team to read and know how to plan and prepare to play against. But we will have our plans in place and our priority is always ourselves, what we can do and how we can hurt them. It is important in the home game that we are ourselves and we give the best account of ourselves.”

Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy last season by wining the EFL Cup, beating Liverpool in the final after seeing off Arsenal in the last four.

“We are very proud to have won the competition last year,” said Howe. “We look back on the experience we went through with pride and positivity – none more so than the semi-final against Arsenal. It was brilliant execution from the players and professionalism. We learned a lot and we will need that experience to take into this game.”

City’s last domestic defeat came at St James’ Park, a controversial 2-1 victory for the home team in November. Since then they have won nine of their 13 games in all competitions and start as favourites to progress through to a final against either Arsenal or Chelsea.

Team News for Newcastle v Manchester City

Newcastle have several injury concerns, particularly in defence with Tino Livramento the latest player to be struck down. He joins Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles on the sidelines.

Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy could be in the squad but won’t dislodge Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon from the starting XI.

City are also short at the back with Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones absent.

New signing Antoine Semenyo is likely to make his second start.

Predicted line-ups for Newcastle v Manchester City

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Botman, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali; Barnes, Gordon, Woltemade

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva, Reijnders; Foden, Semenyo, Haaland

How to watch Newcastle v Manchester City: TV and online streams

Newcastle versus Manchester City kicks off at 8pm UK time tomorrow night. You can watch it on Sky Sports Main Event and ITV1.

It can also be streamed on the Sky Go app and the ITVXapp.

For viewers outside the UK, click HERE…

Stats for Newcastle v Manchester City

• This is Manchester City’s first EFL Cup semi-final since their fourth successive League Cup triumph in the 2020-21 season
• Newcastle have won 10 and drawn three of their last 13 games at St James’ Park