Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Our hardest and most necessary run of 2024/25 begins right here in what guarantees to be a season-defining 4 weeks for Newcastle United.
A visit to Man Metropolis is adopted by Nottingham Forest (H) and Liverpool (A) within the league, an FA Cup fifth spherical tie at house to Brighton and a visit to West Ham on Monday tenth March; just some days earlier than the Carabao Cup Ultimate towards Arne Slot’s Reds.
Beginning with this Saturday’s check, our combination rating on the Etihad is a whopping 54-8 in Man Metropolis’s favour and we’ve not gained since targets from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko dumped them out the League Cup 11 years in the past.
Nonetheless, our away kind has been quietly spectacular during the last 12 months and we’re up towards a Metropolis aspect who haven’t appeared the identical beast this season.
Stopping Erling Haaland isn’t a simple job and Guardiola stays an elite coach, however they’ve an ageing and gradual midfield that sorely misses Rodri and a defence that appears fragile and open, particularly on the break.
Regardless of momentum-building cup successes towards Arsenal and Birmingham over the previous 10 days, we’ve misplaced two of our final three league video games and would head into a significant month with enormous confidence if we are able to pull off an upset right here.
On Man Metropolis problem – “We all know it will likely be a really tough recreation. They’re nonetheless an excellent group, for me they’re nonetheless the benchmark, we should try to ship our greatest efficiency to get the outcome we wish from this match. They’ve an excellent squad, have made some good additions in January. We have to produce in all points of our play to be aggressive.”
On accidents – “Anthony [Gordon] must be nice; he has skilled this week. It was a thigh drawback, however he has responded properly to therapy over the weekend.
“It’s excellent news on Sven’s [Botman] scan, no long-term problem. Brief time period nonetheless some ache, we predict he misses this weekend.
“Dan [Burn], he had a scan which was good, he has improved lots in a short time, so he may very well be shut this weekend.
“Harvey [Barnes], I’m actually happy with how he has appeared, he isn’t far in any respect, one other one that may quickly be in competition.”
“Joelinton is making good progress. We hope by that point [Carabao Cup Final] he will probably be again match and accessible. He’s very pushed to get again.
Anthony Gordon (quad) is to return, Sven Botman (knee) appears set to overlook out and Dan Burn (groin) is “very shut” after recovering rapidly from a knock at Birmingham.
Joelinton (knee) is making good progress and Harvey Barnes (thigh) is near returning, though each look set to overlook out at Man Metropolis together with Jamaal Lascelles (ACL).
For Man Metropolis, Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish have joined Rodri on the sidelines after choosing up accidents in Tuesday night time’s Champions League defeat to Actual Madrid.
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Corridor – Bruno, Tonali, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Dubravka hasn’t given Howe a cause to drop him but and I feel Trippier will come again in at right-back after such a powerful show in our 2-0 win over Arsenal final week.
At centre-back, we all know Botman is out but it surely’s not completely clear if Burn will make it, regardless of the optimistic replace on his groin problem. We may do together with his physicality towards Haaland so I get the sensation he’ll play, with Krafth able to step in if he doesn’t begin.
In midfield, Joelinton’s absence palms Willock an opportunity to step in and construct on that good show and two-goal contribution at Birmingham. That will probably be an enormous raise for him and I count on Howe to reward his greatest efficiency of 2024/25 with a begin on the Etihad.
Up prime, the entrance three picks itself now Gordon has been handed match to play. Hopefully Isak is at it towards a Metropolis defence that appeared fragile and filled with errors in that midweek collapse towards Actual Madrid.
With Man Metropolis taking part in in bodily and mentally draining midweek play-off towards Actual Madrid, which ended with two late targets for the Spaniards, this appears like a great time to face a Metropolis aspect who’ve shipped 15 targets of their final six video games.
We’ve been largely poor in our final three, shedding twice at house and successful at Southampton regardless of an terrible begin, however this can be a massive likelihood for this group to point out what they’re all about.
I worry Botman will probably be a giant miss up towards Haaland, particularly if Burn doesn’t begin, however I feel the vitality and high quality from midfield may very well be key, with Gordon and Isak additionally nightmare opposition for a Metropolis defence struggling to deal with quick counter assaults.
Isak to attain once more in an entertaining draw on the Etihad.
Prediction: Man Metropolis 2-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
