Manchester City smell blood in title race

These two teams are getting to know each other quite well. The money-bags pair – both rich thanks to Gulf trillions – meet for the fourth time this season, with an FA Cup encounter on the horizon to boot. Both sides need the points – Man City to keep the pressure on jittery Arsenal at the top of the table, Newcastle as they go in search of European football, although a top-four finish is highly unlikely.

So far City have enjoyed the familiarity more than the North-East club, winning both of the recent Carabao Cup semi-final legs. But fresh off the back of their 6-1 Champions League thrashing of Qarabag this week, Eddie Howe wants his players to take that attacking intent into this match at the Etihad – especially four-goal hero Anthony Gordon.

“There were really big positives to take from that incident. Moments like that get blown out of all proportion, it was a very minor issue,” the Newcastle manager said.

“It was great from Anthony that he’s got that strong enough resolve that he wants to score in every moment  and you’d want that from any player – so I’ve got no issue with him.

“I’ve got no issue with Kieran [Trippier] also, trying to think of the team and trying to lead in his way and be the aspiring leader that he is in every moment. I actually thought it was a real positive on all sides.

Newcastle sit down in 10th place and have lost on their past 12 visits to the Etihad but Pep Guardiola is expecting a stern test based on what he saw in midweek.

“I saw the last game against Qarabag in the Champions League and it was exceptional,” the City manager said.

“It was 5-0 at half-time, it could have been nine. The rhythm and the intensity and the pace they are playing is the Newcastle I remember when they started this project. Every team can drop points to everyone. It happened to all the teams.”

Stay here for all the team news, pre-match build-up and action, with kick-off set for 8pm.