Newcastle United resume their Premier League season against Pep Guardiola's in-form side after the international break
Newcastle drew 1-1 with Man City at St James' Park lasr season
Newcastle drew 1-1 with Man City at St James' Park lasr season
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After two extremely disappointing Premier League away defeats, Newcastle United's return to action this coming weekend could not be much more difficult.
Eddie Howe coudn't have wished for a tougher test of his Magpies side than the visit of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to St James' Park on Saturday tea-time on a day when United are desperate for a morale-boosting home win.
One on hand, we know the Newcastle stars will be raring to go and keen to prove a point against City following what has a been a poor month so far by the their own high standards, and St James' will be bouncing for the 5.30pm kick-off.
After all, three points against City could change the complexion of the season, which has seen United perform well at home but struggle on the road, with big away games coming up at Marseille, Everton, Leverkusen and then that derby date with Sunderland at the Stadium oif Light.
On the other hand, City are a team in form, having seemingly shaken off the disappointment of last season to look once more like the Guardiola side which lifted pretty much every trophy in recent seasons.
City have lost just one of their last 14 games all in competitions - a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa in October - recording 11 wins in that run.
In Erling Haaland they have the most in-form striker in Europe, plus an array of talent which is now starting to gel as a cohesive unit.
And if that's not dautning enough, how about these troubling statisics from Opta?
Newcastle have won just ONE of their last 35 Premier League games with Manchester City, drawing six and losing 28. That solitary win came in 2019 when goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie gave United a 2-1 win under Rafa Benitez.
In total, Man City have won 12 Premier League away games against Newcastle at St James' Park, which is their joint-most away victories against an opponent in the competition (along with Everton).
Man City have scored in every one of their last 33 Premier League games against Newcastle.
Newcastle's three defeats from winning positions this season (Arsenal, West Ham and Brentford), is as many as they suffered in the last two seasons COMBINBED.
Eddie Howe has won none of his 18 Premier League meetings with Man City, drawing two and losing 16. That's the most a manager has faced an opponent in the competition without ever winning.
Man City’s Erling Haaland next Premier League goal will be his 100th in the competition, while a goal in this match - or any of his next 15 - will make him the fastest to reach this milestone.
So much for the doom and gloom, but what positive can United take into the game?
Well, despite City's resurgence this season, they've still only managed two Premier League away wins - and they were against basement side Wolves on the opening day and a 1-0 win over Brentford in early October.
Of course Newcastle have an excellent record at St James' Park, only losing by one goal to Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona in all competitions, and have now won their last six home games.
Haaland may be the leading marksman this season, but United's Nick Woltemade has already make a huge impact on the Premier League.
All three of his non-penalty goals in the league have been from first time shots – only Jean-Philippe Mateta (four) has scored more.
Whichever way you look at it, City will be a huge test of Newcastle's mettle on Saturday. But records are there to be broken . . .