In another busy week of fixtures, Wednesday night offers Manchester City the chance to make amends for their weekend slip up, as they welcome Newcastle to the Etihad for a 6pm kick-off.
After beating league champions Liverpool 4-0, Pep Guardiola’s side went on to lose to 13th place Southampton 0-1, on Sunday.
This was a result that shocked all in football, and one that now means City will go into the game against mid-table Newcastle with something to prove.
Newcastle held their own in the reverse league fixture in November, drawing 2-2, however, since then have fallen to the hands of Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup Quarter Finals losing 2-0.
That FA Cup defeat was, in fact, the last time Steve Bruce’s side lost, having avoided defeat in their last six league games.
Seeing Southampton’s resilient display on Sunday being enough to see off 2nd place City, Bruce will be hoping his team can do the same this time out.
If Newcastle are to avoid defeat though, they will have to do so without midfielders Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden, who have both suffered hamstring injuries in the recent demanding run of fixtures.
City also won’t have a full squad for the clash, as they will still be without top goalscorer Sergio Aguero, who recently underwent knee surgery in Barcelona.
Aguero’s absence will be Newcastle’s gain, but they will still have Raheem Sterling to contend with, who has scored twice against them already this season.
The away side are sure to travel to Manchester full of optimism, as they look to follow in the footsteps of their fellow mid-table rivals Southampton and carry on their league unbeaten run, but I don’t think it will be enough.
City haven’t suffered any back to back league defeats this season, and despite their weekend mishap, I don’t think a second defeat is on the cards this week.
Match Preview written by Sophie Reynolds.
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