Newcastle United are dealing with multiple injuries, and it will be interesting to see whether they can make the most of the resources at their disposal and grind out a positive result in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg vs Manchester City at St. James’ Park on Tuesday.
The Magpies have picked up just two wins from their last six matches against Manchester City, and they need to raise their performance levels here. On the other hand, Manchester City are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, but they have picked up just one win from their four most recent outings.
Pep Guardiola’s men are coming into this game on the back of an incredible result against Exeter City in the FA Cup. City scored 10 goals in that game, and they will be full of confidence. It remains to be seen whether they can grind out a positive result in the first leg and give themselves a good chance of reaching the final. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
William Osula (ankle), Dan Burn (chest), Emil Krafth (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (undisclosed), Tino Livramento (thigh), and Fabian Schar (ankle) are ruled out. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga are doubtful with knee and thigh injuries, respectively.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-1-2 formation vs Manchester City, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Bruno Guimaraes will start in the centre of the park alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Joelinton and Guimaraes will look to add creativity and drive to the side, while Tonali looks to provide defensive cover.
Anthony Gordon will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create openings in the final third. Finally, Nick Woltemade will lead the Newcastle United attack vs Manchester City alongside Yoane Wissa.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Gordon; Woltemade, Wissa
Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Oscar Bobb (hamstring), Ruben Dias (knock), and Josko Gvardiol (calf) are ruled out for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are away due to AFCON, although the latter should be back soon.
Manchester City will shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the full-backs. They will keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Meanwhile, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Rodri will start in the middle of the park, looking to control the tempo of the game from deep and provide defensive cover, with Tijjani Reijnders adding drive and creativity alongside him.
Rayan Cherki will add creativity from the number ten role. Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland spearheading the Manchester City attack vs Newcastle United this midweek.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Reijnders, Rodri; Doku, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland
The Ghana International has joined Manchester City during the January transfer window, and he was excellent on his debut. Semenyo will be full of hunger and determination to prove himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he will look to make his mark in an important game here.
The London-born winger is likely to be handed a start here, and he has the quality to exploit Newcastle’s defensive vulnerability. He will look to take on defenders and create opportunities for his teammates. He will also look to add to his goal tally for the season. Semenyo is in red-hot form right now, and he could make a defining impact in the final third and help his side get through the next round.
Both teams will be desperate for a positive result here, and this is likely to be a close game. Neither side is defensive in their approach, and this is likely to be an open contest with plenty of opportunities for either team.
Manchester City have greater quality and depth in their attacking unit, and they should be able to get the job done. Newcastle United have multiple injury problems, and they are likely to come up short. A narrow win for Manchester City is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
