Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Preview & Prediction Premier League 2025/26
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Match Preview
Introduction:
This Premier League clash at St. James’ Park promises to be a significant one for both teams, but with vastly different stakes. Manchester City, second in the Premier League and chasing Arsenal for the title, come into this game with momentum after a dominant win against Liverpool. On the other hand, Newcastle United, sitting in 14th place, are struggling with form and key injuries, but will be looking to play the role of spoilers and end their inconsistent run with a positive result against one of the Premier League’s top sides.
With Haaland and De Bruyne in fine form, City will be the favorites, but Newcastle’s home advantage and passionate fanbase can never be underestimated. Expect a tactical battle, with City’s attacking prowess pitted against Newcastle’s defensive resilience.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Newcastle United vs Manchester City
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 12)
- Venue: St. James’ Park, Newcastle
- Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 17:30 UTC / 18:30 CET / 23:00 IST
- Referee: Anthony Taylor (Expected)
- VAR: Michael Oliver (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate
- TV Channel (USA): NBC, Peacock Premium
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- TV Channel (Australia): Optus Sport
- Live Stream: Discovery+ (UK), Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
- Newcastle United:
- Position: 14th in the Premier League with 12 points.
- Form: Coming off a 3-1 loss to Brentford, their form has been shaky.
- Key Absences: Missing key defenders like Sven Botman and Dan Burn (suspended).
- Current Challenge: Trying to maintain stability and pride after a series of mixed results.
- Manchester City:
- Position: 2nd in the Premier League with 22 points.
- Form: Coming off a 3-0 win over Liverpool and currently in a strong run of form.
- Current Challenge: Chasing Arsenal at the top of the table, City is hungry for a win to stay in the title race.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — What’s at Stake
- For Newcastle United:
- Pride and Stability: With a weakened squad and nothing to lose, they’ll look to play for pride in front of their fans and spoil City’s title hopes.
- For Manchester City:
- Title Pursuit: Every point counts for City as they chase Arsenal for the Premier League title. A win here is vital to maintain pressure on the leaders.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Team Form
- Newcastle United (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Brentford (3-1)
- W vs Athletic Bilbao (2-0)
- L vs West Ham (3-1)
- W vs Tottenham (2-0)
- W vs Fulham (2-1)
- Manchester City (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Liverpool (3-0)
- W vs Dortmund (4-1)
- W vs Bournemouth (3-1)
- W vs Swansea (3-1)
- L vs Aston Villa (1-0)
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Team News
- Newcastle United:
- Sandro Tonali: Available after returning to training.
- Anthony Gordon: Available, fully recovered from injury.
- Nick Pope: Available after passing concussion protocols.
- Dan Burn: Suspended for this match.
- Tino Livramento: Doubtful due to a knee injury.
- Yoane Wissa: Out with a knee injury.
- Joelinton: Doubtful with a calf injury.
- William Osula: Out with an ankle injury.
- Manchester City:
- Rodri: Doubtful due to a hamstring knock.
- Mateo Kovacic: Out with an ankle/heel injury.
- Erling Haaland: Available (fully fit and rested).
- Kevin De Bruyne: Available (expected to start).
- Abdukodir Khusanov: Out (unavailable).
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Head to Head
- Feb 15, 2025: Manchester City 4–0 Newcastle
- Sep 28, 2024: Newcastle 1–1 Manchester City
- Mar 16, 2024 (FA Cup): Manchester City 2–0 Newcastle
- Jan 13, 2024: Newcastle 2–3 Manchester City
- Sep 28, 2023 (EFL): Newcastle 1–0 Manchester City
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Predicted Lineups
Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Ederson
- RB: Rico Lewis (Expected to replace Kyle Walker as the main starter by late 2025)
- CB: Rúben Dias
- CB: Manuel Akanji (or John Stones)
- LB: Joško Gvardiol
- CDM: Rodri
- CM: Mateo Kovačić (or Matheus Nunes)
- RW: Savinho (Replaces Mahrez/Bernardo on the wing)
- CAM: Phil Foden (The main creative force if De Bruyne is rested/benched)
- LW: Jérémy Doku (or Jack Grealish)
- ST: Erling Haaland
Subs: Ortega (GK), Aké, Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Oscar Bobb, James McAtee, Matheus Nunes.
Newcastle United (4-3-3)
This lineup reflects Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento becoming first-team regulars by 2025, with the core midfield intact.
- GK: Nick Pope
- RB: Tino Livramento
- CB: Fabian Schär
- CB: Sven Botman
- LB: Lewis Hall (Full starter by 2025)
- CM: Sandro Tonali
- CM: Bruno Guimarães
- CM: Joelinton (or Joe Willock if Joelinton is injured )
- RW: Anthony Gordon (Often plays left, but can switch if Barnes starts)
- ST: Alexander Isak
- LW: Harvey Barnes
Subs: Odysseas Vlachodimos (GK), Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Lewis Miley, William Osula.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Tactical Outlook
Newcastle United:
- Playing Style: Expect Newcastle to be more direct than usual. Instead of building slowly, they will look to bypass City’s press with long balls into the channels for Isak and Gordon to chase. Without the ball, they will likely drop into a compact 5-4-1 low block, aiming to frustrate City and force them wide. Set-pieces and corners will be their best route to goal, targeting the height of Botman and Burn (if available) against City’s zonal marking.
- Weakness: Defending wide areas. If City isolates their wingers (Doku/Savinho) against Newcastle’s full-backs, the Magpies could be overwhelmed by pace.
Manchester City:
- Playing Style: City has evolved from pure possession to “controlled transition.” They will invite Newcastle to press high, then use the technical class of Foden and Bernardo Silva to spin away and launch lethal counter-attacks through Haaland. Expect Rico Lewis to drift into midfield, creating an overload that forces Newcastle’s midfielders to lose their shape.
- Strength: The “Bait and Switch.” City will lull Newcastle to sleep with slow passing at the back, then suddenly accelerate the tempo with a vertical pass to Doku or Haaland.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Tino Livramento vs. Jérémy Doku | Speed vs. Trickery: Livramento is one of the few defenders fast enough to match Doku, but Doku’s 1v1 dribbling is a nightmare for any right-back. | Tie |
| Bruno Guimarães vs. Phil Foden | The Engine Room: Bruno must physically bully Foden to stop him from turning in the pocket. If Foden finds space between the lines, game over. | Man City |
| Sven Botman vs. Erling Haaland | Titan Clash: Botman is Newcastle’s best aerial defender. He must win the first header every time, or Haaland will feast on the second balls. | Man City |
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Spotlight Players
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City):
The Norwegian striker has been in sensational form and is currently the Premier League’s top scorer with 8 goals. His pace, power, and clinical finishing will be key for City in breaking down Newcastle’s defense. Haaland’s ability to exploit spaces behind the defense makes him a constant threat in this encounter. - Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United):
The Brazilian midfielder is the key to Newcastle’s transition play and ball distribution. He will need to be at his creative best to supply Isak and Wilson with opportunities, while also putting in a strong defensive shift to stifle City’s midfield maestros like De Bruyne.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Statistical Snapshot
| Metric | Newcastle United | Manchester City |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League Position | 14th (12 points) | 2nd (22 points) |
| Last 5 Matches | 3W, 2L | 4W, 1L |
| Goals For / Goals Against | 10 GF / 11 GA | 15 GF / 4 GA |
| Home Record | 2W, 2L, 1D | 4W, 1L |
| Away Record | 1W, 3L, 1D | 5W, 0L |
| Top Scorer | Alexander Isak (4 goals) | Erling Haaland (8 goals) |
| Assists Leader | Bruno Guimarães (3 assists) | Kevin De Bruyne (5 assists) |
Explanation
Manchester City enters this match in strong form, with a 5-0 away record and a potent attacking line led by Haaland. On the other hand, Newcastle has been struggling with consistency, especially at home, but still poses a threat through Isak and Guimarães. City’s superior attack and solid defense give them the edge, though Newcastle will look to capitalize on their home advantage.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Fan Reactions
- Newcastle Fans:
- “We might be struggling, but we have to show fight and give our fans something to cheer about!”
- “Come on, boys! City is beatable, we just have to play like we mean it!”
- “Tough match, but we have the heart. We’ll give them a good game.”
- Manchester City Fans:
- “Another game, another chance to close the gap on Arsenal. We have the quality to win this one easily.”
- “Haaland and De Bruyne are on fire right now. This should be a straightforward win for us.”
- “Newcastle has been struggling, but we can’t take them lightly. A tough away game is always challenging.”
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate
- USA: NBC, Peacock Premium
- India: Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Australia: Optus Sport
- Live Streaming: Discovery+ (UK), Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Match-Defining Factors
- Erling Haaland’s Impact:
Haaland’s clinical finishing will be a major factor. If he finds the back of the net early, it will be a massive boost for City and a tough task for Newcastle to recover from. - Newcastle’s Defensive Resilience:
With key defenders out, Newcastle’s defense will be under immense pressure. If they can frustrate City in the first half and stay compact, they might have a chance to hit City on the break. - Midfield Battle (Guimarães vs. De Bruyne):
The battle for control in the middle of the park will be key. If Guimarães can stop De Bruyne from dictating play, it could throw a wrench into City’s rhythm. - Set Pieces:
Set pieces could play a pivotal role, particularly for Newcastle. They are traditionally strong from corners and free kicks, and with a target like Wilson, they will need to capitalize on any aerial opportunities.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Prediction:
Newcastle United 1–3 Manchester City
- Total Corners: Over 10.5
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS): YES
While Newcastle will put up a brave fight, the quality and depth of Manchester City should prove too much for them. Expect Haaland to be the difference-maker, but Newcastle will surely get a goal in front of their home fans.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Final Word
This match promises to be an intriguing encounter between a Newcastle side battling injuries and suspensions and a Manchester City team chasing the title. While City is the clear favorite, Newcastle’s fighting spirit and home advantage mean they can’t be underestimated. With the likes of Haaland and De Bruyne at the helm for City, expect them to dominate possession, but don’t be surprised if Newcastle has a few tricks up their sleeve, especially in the second half.
If City can break the deadlock early, it might be smooth sailing for them, but if Newcastle can remain solid at the back and launch counter-attacks, we could witness a more competitive game than expected.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — FAQs
- When is the Newcastle United vs Manchester City match?
The match will take place on Saturday, 22 November 2025, with a kickoff time of 17:30 UTC / 18:30 CET / 23:00 IST. - Where can I watch the match?
The match will be available on TNT Sports (UK), NBC (USA), Star Sports (India), and Optus Sport (Australia). It will also be streamed on platforms like Discovery+, Peacock, and JioStar. - What is the current form of Newcastle United?
Newcastle is currently in 14th place with 12 points. Their recent form has been inconsistent with 3 wins and 2 losses in their last 5 matches. - Who are the key players to watch in this match?
Keep an eye on Erling Haaland for Manchester City, who has been in sensational form, and Alexander Isak for Newcastle, who will be crucial in their attacking threat. - What’s at stake for both teams?
For Newcastle, it’s about pride and stability, while for Manchester City, it’s a vital match to stay in the title race with Arsenal.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — Call to Action
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