Nathan Ake returns to Manchester City’s starting line-up for the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United, with Sergio Aguero left among the substitutes at the Etihad Stadium.
Men’s crew
Man City v Newcastle: MATCH DAY LIVE
Pep Guardiola has made seven changes to the side that started in a midweek win over Arsenal, with Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva the only players to secure their place.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAN CITY PODCAST
Ake has been recalled after missing the trip to North London due to a lack of full fitness, with Ederson, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres as well. returns to the starting XI.
Aguero is on the bench for the third game in a row as Guardiola continues to be patient with him despite the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who misses out on Kyle Walker after his loss. performing a positive test for COVID-19.
Teams
CITY: Ederson, Cancelo, Clachan, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Sterling, Torres.
SUBS: Steffen, Aguero, Zinchenko, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer.
NEWCASTLE: Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie, Murphy, Hayden, M. Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton.
SUBS: Lewis, Anderson, Manquillo, Wilson, Krafth, Carroll, Gayle, S. Longstaff, Gillespie.
Men’s crew
The Return of the King: Colin Bell
Creation and squad notes
Ten of the players who started against Southampton last weekend will start against the Magpies, which features City playing in a 4-3-3 format.
Ake will be sent off at left-back as Cancelo changes to a more experienced right-back position in Walker’s absence, with De Bruyne the most advanced midfielder ahead of Rodrigo and Gundogan.
Torres should take responsibility for leading the front line and while Bernardo looks set to start on the right, he and Sterling could change the sides throughout the game.
As it is now
|
8 |
|
Southampton Soton |
15 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
25 |
19 |
6 |
25 |
LWWDL |
|
|
9 |
|
City of Manchester Man City |
13 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
19 |
12 |
7 |
23 |
WWDDW |
|
|
10 |
|
West Ham United West Ham |
14 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
21 |
19 |
2 |
21 |
WLWDL |
Men’s crew
Positive city duo test for COVID-19
Information and stats
- This is our 900th Premier League game.
- We have won our previous 11 Premier League home games against Newcastle, a club record run against a high-flying opponent.
- We can match the Premier League record of scoring in 24 consecutive games against one club. We have scored 61 goals in 23 games against the Magpies.
- Kevin De Bruyne has provided 15 Premier League assists in 2020 – at least three more than anyone else. He needs four more to break his personal record in calendar year, which he set in 2017.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 15 Premier League goals against Newcastle, a competitive record for a single-team player against a single opponent.
- Newcastle have won just once in seven away games in all competitions and have lost three of their last four.
- The Magpies have lost 14 matches on Boxing Day and have conceded 42 goals in the process, both of which are Premier League records.
- Steve Bruce is unbeaten in 12 professional Premier League games at. His second victory in the league came with Huddersfield Town in the second series in 1999.
CITYZENS: SCORE PREDICTOR – Score Predictor_ City v Newcastle PL 20/21