Newcastle United vs Manchester City preview: Kovacic and Rodri only absentees for trip to NewcastleRodri is "making steps good" according to Guardiola, but misses out on teatime clash
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 22nd November 2025
Venue: St James Park, Newcastle
Referee: Sam Barrott Assistants: T Wood, N Greenhalgh Fourth Official: L Doughty VAR: C Pawson
Odds: Newcastle 5/2, Draw 11/4, City 19/20
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Newcastle
Manager: Eddie Howe
Squad (from): Pope, Ruddy, Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Botman, Schar, Lascelles, Thiaw, Krafth, Livramento, Murphy, Joelinton, Tonali, Barnes, Murphy, Willock, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Miley, Gordon, Wlanga, Woltemade, Seung-Soo
Injured: Wissa
Doubtful: Osula, Gordon, Livramento, Ashby
Suspended: Burn
Form guide: LWLWW
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Donnarumma, Trafford, Bettinelli, Dias, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Lewis, Reijnders, Cherki, Gonzalez, Silva, Nunes, O'Reilly, Foden, Bobb, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Savinho
Injured: Kovacic, Rodri
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWWL
Rodri and Mateo Kovacic are the onluy two absentees for the trip to St James Park on Saturday evening.
“Everybody is fit except Kova and Rodri,” Pep Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.
“Rodri is making steps good, it’s almost three weeks since his last setback.
“He knows he has to take time to recover well mentally and physically and to be consistent from now until the end.”
City drew their last game at St James Park, with Josko Gvardiol netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 79 of the 194 games played against Newcastle, with 42 draws and 73 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Foden, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: Newcastle 2 City 2
Archives