Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United have made a less than impressive start to the campaign this year as they are yet to win a single game. They have lost two and drawn one in their first three league games and to pile on the misery, Rafa’s men were knocked out of the League Cup earlier this week as a couple of late goals from Nottingham Forest saw the Magpies lose 3-1 on the night.
They will want to get some points on the board early this season but it only gets tougher for them this weekend as they travel to the Etihad to take on a Manchester City side who dropped a couple of points last weekend on their trip to the Molineux.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be raging and will settle for nothing less than a mauling but the grit shown by Newcastle in their last league game against Chelsea will give them some hope going into this tie.
Rafa will not want to make too many experiments and could field another defensive-minded side.
Newcastle United Team News
Florian Lejeune and Jonjo Shelvey are all but ruled out for this weekend. Jamaal Lascelles and Javi Manquillo are all close to full fitness and could be back in the squad for the trip to Manchester. Isaac Hayden is still suspended for the red card he picked up against Cardiff City.
Expected Newcastle lineup (5-4-1)
Defence
Martin Dubravka has just 1.7 saves per game and needs to put in a better performance this weekend if the visitors are to frustrate Pep’s side. Rafa is expected to use a three-man backline in this game.
Jamaal Lascelles was not a part of the team that played Chelsea but his figures of 2 tackles and 5.5 aerial duels won along with a passing accuracy of 81%, should see him start at the heart of the backline.
Ciaran Clark has also been effective at the back, with 5.7 clearances and 2.3 tackles per game. He should start at the back alongside Federico Fernandez, who put in a decent performance in the loss to Forest earlier in the week. They will have a tough time keeping Sergio Aguero quiet in this game.
Paul Dummett has played every minute of United’s league action and should keep his place at left-back while DeAndre Yedlin, who was unlucky to score the own goal that gave Chelsea all three points last weekend, should keep his place at right back.
Midfield
With Shelvey doubtful, Rafa needs Mohamed Diame to step up. The 31-year old has 3 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game and will have to break up play in front of the backline to keep the hosts frustrated. He could line up alongside Ki Sung-Yeung, who has two tackles and a passing accuracy of 87%.
The duo will play in the middle of the park, adding the cover to the backline, with Matt Ritchie who has just an assist so far this season, adding some width to the midfield on the right flank.
Kenedy was ineligible to play against Chelsea but should be back starting on the left flank in the midfield.
Attack
Joselu came off the bench against the Blues to find an equaliser but Salomon Rondon adds more pace and power to the Newcastle attack and should lead the line once against this weekend.
Here is how they might line up:
Stat Credit: Whoscored.com
