Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has essentially conceded the Premier League title race without really conceding it. The City boss maintains his team will keep fighting on until the end, but knows it’s not the top priority anymore.
Up next is a trip to St. James Park, where the hosts are sometimes surprisingly tough against the big six. City come into this match third in the table with 28 points, while Newcastle are 14th with just 15 points. Let’s take a look at the team news for this one, starting with Newcastle.
Defenders Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune are back in contention, but American DeAndre Yedlin is still battling a hip injury.
Matt Ritchie will not return until late January after having underwent a second operation to repair the damaged ankle which was hurt back in August.
For Manchester City, Sergio Aguero, who suffered a serious thigh problem against Chelsea, joins the group of long term injury absentees that includes Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane. The absence of Aguero provides a very special opportunity for Gabriel Jesus to step up and be all that he can be. City needs him, right here, right now.
Manchester City starting XI prediction at Newcastle United
Mahrez Jesus Sterling
Gundogan Rodri De Bruyne
Mendy Fernandinho Stones Walker
Ederson
Manchester City at Newcastle United FYIs
Kickoff: Nov. 30, 12:30pm St. James Park
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Odds: Newcastle 16-1 Manchester City 1-5 Draw 7-1
Google result probability: 81% Manchester City win, 13% draw, 6% Newcastle United victory
Form Guide: Manchester City WLWWW Newcastle United LWWDL
Prediction: Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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