Premier League: State-Funded Footy Welcomes in the Weekend

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

We are now officially in the era of state-funded dominance and this Premier League clash proves it.

Yet the beauty of football is that it is unlikely to be ownership issues or court cases that dominate the build-up to this contest.

Instead, it will be which side can deliver Premier League highlights – the champions or the Tynesiders looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign.

 

Talking Points

City showed all their character to rescue a last-gasp draw against Arsenal last weekend, even if they had been frustrated playing for almost an hour against 10 men.

It was a game they controlled early on and were within inches of taking a possibly unassailable 2-0 lead.

However, the woodwork and loss of midfield metronome Rodri hampered them and the prognosis for his injury, though not yet confirmed, is not good.

On a brighter note, City will hope talisman Kevin de Bruyne is fit to return for this one after he missed both the Arsenal game and the midweek League Cup tie with Watford.

City have played twice since the Geordies’ last outing as they had a free week after flooding led to their tie at AFC Wimbledon being postponed.

Even though they had not lost in their opening four league games, Newcastle travelled to Fulham last weekend with an early-season narrative: points over performance, undefeated despite lacking a bit of sparkle.

Sure enough, the Magpies were far from their best and duly beaten 3-1.

Unlike their opponents who have been able to live in a different financial stratosphere to most since their 2008 takeover, Newcastle’s commercial revenue streams have not yet caught up with their ambition and the regulations prevent their Saudi Arabian ownership from investing in players as heavily as hoped.

Yet few Premier League managers can dream of a first-choice midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton, complemented by Alexander Isak at centre-forward.

That is why manager Eddie Howe will be keen to make a statement against the best team in the land and show that he is turning them into a genuine force.

Given their absences, it may just be a good time to play the leaders.

 

History

This fixture was, in my view, the one that made Manchester City champions last term.

Trailing the Geordies on Tyneside with less than 20 minutes remaining, even a draw would have seen Pep Guardiola’s men slip further behind Liverpool in the title race.

Instead, they displayed the true hallmarks of champions on a cold January night when two things stood out.

Firstly the return of Kevin de Bruyne – missing virtually the first half of the campaign to that point – added composure and a touch of class just when they needed it most.

Secondly, the poise of young Oscar Bobb, in stoppage time, highlighted another young player at the club – after Phil Foden and Cole Palmer – coming through the ranks with character to match talent.

The rest is very much history as a fourth successive title was secured.

City also beat Newcastle 1-0 at home in the league last season when Julian Alvarez was the scorer.

The Toon Army did have the comfort of a 1-0 home victory over City in the third round of the League Cup, courtesy of Alexander Isak, but City gained revenge by defeating them 2-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals, thanks to a Bernardo Silva double.

Overall, Newcastle have beaten City 73 times, just four behind their 77 victories, while there have been a further 40 draws.

While City have won seven of the last eight league meetings, Newcastle have only beaten City once on Tyneside since 2005. That was in January 2019 when second half goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie (penalty) sealed a 2-1 victory.

 

Betting Tip

Newcastle fans may fancy backing their team with such attractive options with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.

After all, the Tynesiders are priced 1X2 @ 4.55 and Asian Handicap + 0.75 @ 2.13 which is worth a punt.

Even the draw @ 4.10 will appeal to many.

Regardless of whether they are at full strength or not, City are on offer 1X2 @ 1.56 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.02.

A repeat of last season’s five goal thriller will pay out @ 18.00 with Correct Score 2-3.

I do see there being only one goal between the teams but, given there’s only been two goalless draws in all their meetings over the past 19 years and the way the sides play, I am not expecting another one.

   

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