Newcastle vs Manchester City Predictions

• Newcastle have lost five of their last six Premier League games.
• Manchester City have won eight of their last nine competitive matches.
• Julian Alvarez has scored in each of his last four appearances.

Magpies avoid FA Cup upset

Newcastle avoided the banana skin of a Tyne-Wear Derby defeat in the FA Cup last weekend but the Magpies face a much bigger test when Manchester City travel to St James’ Park on Saturday.

Eddie Howe’s side may have progressed in the FA Cup but their form prior to that victory at the Stadium of Light was dreadful, with six defeats in their last nine matches putting them out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup and ninth in the Premier League table.

Their last Premier League outing saw them concede a record 7.27 expected goals at Anfield and, with five defeats in six top-flight matches, a result against Manchester City would be a shock.

Cityzens target three points

The defending Premier League champions may sit five points adrift of the summit of the table but they tend to up their game in the second half of the season and they head to the north east in fine form, with seven wins and one draw across their last eight matches.

Pep Guardiola’s side, perhaps unsurprisingly, thrashed Huddersfield in the FA Cup last time out but one of the biggest celebrations came when Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with Jeremy Doku also returning from injury. Erling Haaland is still a doubt but the return of De Bruyne is a boost to the whole squad and further increases their chances of picking up another win on Saturday.

Alvarez can fire City to victory

Whether Haaland features or not, Julian Alvarez looks a good bet in the anytime goalscorer market. The Argentine scored against Huddersfield to make it five goals in his last four appearances and he has found the net in each one of those games. He scored the winner in the last Premier League meeting between these sides in August and can strike again on Saturday.

Manchester City to get the win also looks a fantastic bet, while a 3-1 correct score prediction appeals, too. The Magpies lost by this scoreline in their last home match and Manchester City have scored exactly three goals in each of their last three games away from the Etihad, including a 3-1 win at Goodison Park in their last trip away.

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