Manchester City can send a message to their Premier League title rivals with a win at St. James Park against Newcastle on Saturday. With the game being City’s last before their winter break it allows them to head into the break with a win against a quality opponent at a notoriously tough venue.
The champions will head to St. James Park in a rich vein of form. Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last 5 games in all competitions. A feature of the winning run has been the treble winners beginning to resemble them at their best. During the winning run, the champions have started to play the football they’re renowned for. They will head to St.James Park and face Eddie Howe’s Magpies amid their best run of form arguably for the season and full of confidence.
City will also take on Newcastle with key players returning. Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both returned last weekend against Huddersfield Town and look set to be available. Erling Haaland may also return to the Manchester City squad after resuming training following a foot injury. The cavalry is slowly returning for the European champions and they’ll head to Newcastle with nearly all of their weapons available.
With Liverpool and Arsenal not in action this weekend a City win would place pressure on two of City’s rivals ahead of their matches next weekend. A win against Newcastle at St.James could remind the pair that the world champions are beginning their annual second-half-of-the-season charge. Second-placed Aston Villa face Everton on Sunday so a City win would also remind Villa that the champions are coming.
A tough test awaits Pep Guardiola’s side at St.James Park. But if they can pick up a vital three points it could send an ominous message to their rivals.
