Manchester City vs Newcastle: Premier League Odds, Prediction

Pep Guardiola’s side is chasing Arsenal for the top spot in the Premier League, despite actually downing the Gunners just a few weeks ago. As for Eddie Howe’s side, their scintillating ways have cooled off in recent weeks, to say nothing of the fact that they need to put the heartbreak of the Carabao Cup Final behind them.

The soccer experts have pinned City as massive -239 favourites on the Premier League odds. A draw is +350. The over-under is estimated at 2.75.

Manchester City vs Newcastle Betting Analysis

Historically, the head-to-head meetings between the Manchester-based franchise and the Magpies are a lot closer than one would think. That has a lot to do with City’s relatively recent ascension from a middling club to a European superpower. The Blues hold a slight 74-41-72 edge (win-draw-loss).

That said, since taking over for City in 2016, Guardiola has led his side to a 9-2-1 record in all competitions. Of note, one of those two draws was a league contest way back in August, a thrilling 3-3 tie at St. James’ Park. Little did fans know at the time that the result was in fact a sneak peek at each club’s fortunes this year.

Newcastle has surpassed expectations. It narrowly lost its grip on silverware for the first time in decades last weekend and has a serious chance at Champions League football next season. Manchester continues to play high-quality football overall but has surprisingly slipped up numerous times, hence their obligation to give chase to Arsenal to achieve a Premier League three-peat.

Manchester City

Last week went about as well as a club of their statute can ask for. On Wednesday it was the return of the Champions League, which saw them fly to Germany to take on RB Leipzig. While they didn’t win the game, a 1-1 away draw is more than enough for the Premier League side to feel confident that they can take care of business at home in a couple of weeks.

Then on Saturday in domestic action, the team went to Bournemouth. Any dropped points there would have been unacceptable, and the boys in powder blue made sure there would be no slip up. The first half alone was a masterclass in footballing domination, with City passing the ball to their heart’s content. At times they cut through the hosts’ defence like a hot knife through butter, which led to the first two makers by Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland. The third, from Phil Foden, was more a case of Bournemouth panicking. An atrocious defensive gaff allowed the English forward to trot in on a breakaway and slot home his goal. The fourth marker early in the second half was the cherry on top of a 4-1 win.

Newcastle

This weekend’s fixture is a bigger test of Newcastle’s metal than feels comfortable to admit. October through January (with a World Cup break during that stretch), the Magpies resembled one of the best sides in the country. Eddie Howe looked to be building something special, with the team scoring at will and conceding very little.

The reality is that by the time this game is played, they will have not won a match in the league in a month and a half.  Their 1-0 victory over Fulham on Jan. 15 is beginning to feel like a long time ago. Not only that, but they must move onward from their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Newcastle huffed and puffed, with Allan Saint-Maximin and Sean Longstaff creating chances, but to no avail. Miguel Amiron, who not long ago was the man of the hour, was very quiet. He’s only scored once in his last five contests, although he has two assists in that span.

Premier League Prediction: Who Will Win Manchester City vs Newcastle?

Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle