Manchester City vs Newcastle United preview: Guardiola defends players after Champions League exit

By Ric Turner, Fri 06 May 2022 16:05


Manchester City vs Newcastle United preview: Guardiola defends players after Champions League exitManager hasn't spoken to squad yet but insists "we have recovered"

Manchester City vs Newcastle United

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 8th May 2022

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Stuart Atwell Assistants: C Hatzidakis, N Davies Fourth Official: A Taylor VAR: J Gillett

Odds: City 1/6, Draw 7/1, Newcastle 18/1

Tickets: Available via mancity.com

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Steffen, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Laporte, Cancelo, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Palmer, McAtee, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez, Delap

Injured: None

Doubtful: Walker, Stones

Suspended: Mendy

Form guide: WWWWL

Newcastle United

Manager: Eddie Howe

Squad (from): Dubravka, Darlow, Gillespie, Clark, Dummett, Schar, Lascelles, Targett, Trippier, Krafth, Fernandaez, Manquillo, Burn, Shelvey, Ritchie, Murphy, Almiron, Willock, Lomgstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Wilson, Saint-Maximin, Wood, Gayle

Injured: Hayden, Fraser, Lewis

Doubtful: Trippier, Schar, Wilson

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWWL

City's players have been given two days off after the defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, and manager Pep Guardiola insists there will be no Chmapions League hangover for his squad.

“We have recovered,” said Guardiola at Friday's press conference..

“We will be better tomorrow. It’s football, we accept it.  We have a big challenge - especially this week. We have the Premier League season in our hands.

“They don't have to forget, how do they forget? We'll play Newcastle thinking of it. For sure.

“I know the players in the training sessions, meetings, warm-ups, how committed they'll be. I have no doubt.

City drew their last home game against Newcastle 2-0, with Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 73 of the 185 games played against the Magpies, with 40 draws and 72 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: City 3 Newcastle 1