Having been drawn to face one another within the FA Cup fifth spherical, Manchester Metropolis host Newcastle United on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (20:00 GMT) hoping to slender the five-point hole between themselves and league leaders
The golf equipment have already performed one another in a two-legged League Cup semi-final and will doubtlessly meet once more within the final 4 of the Champions League, resulting in some cries of fatigue from their supporters.
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Pep Guardiola’s focus, nonetheless, will probably be solely on avenging a 2-1 reverse at St James’ Park in November and utilizing this recreation in hand to shrink the Gunners’ result in two factors.
Residents cane Magpies
Metropolis boast a frankly ridiculous residence report towards the Magpies. They’re unbeaten in 21 and have received every of their previous 16 conferences in Eastlands, the second longest residence profitable streak towards an opponent in English top-flight historical past, after Everton’s 22 consecutive wins over Fulham from 1961 to 2018.
The final six of these residence wins over Newcastle have come with out conceding a purpose. Accidents have left Metropolis weak in central defence at occasions this season, however in assault they proceed to own a humiliation of riches.
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Amid elevated competitors for his place within the beginning XI, homegrown hero Phil Foden is approaching a big milestone. His subsequent Premier League purpose involvement will probably be his a centesimal for the membership, an achievement unlocked by simply 5 Metropolis gamers thus far.
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Toon’s top-half journey troubles
Newcastle come into the sport off the again of three straight wins in all competitions, however their league type has been removed from good, with final week’s 2-1 success at their first win in 5 makes an attempt.
That outcome moved Eddie Howe’s aspect tenth within the desk however the Magpies’ away report towards groups beginning the day within the high half isn’t an encouraging one for the travelling Toon Military; they’re winless in 10 towards such opposition, dropping seven of these. Towards groups within the high two, that report stretches to no wins in 37.
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Harvey Barnes’ spectacular performances this season sparked rumours of a possible swap of worldwide allegiance forward of this summer season’s World Cup, though Scotland head coach Steve Clarke lately confirmed that the winger is concentrating on including to his one England cap.
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Having bagged a brace earlier within the season, Barnes is aiming to develop into the primary Newcastle participant to attain residence and away towards Metropolis in the identical league season since Alan Shearer in 2004-05.
Barnes and co will probably be aiming to fireplace Newcastle to their first top-flight league double over Manchester Metropolis since 1955-56. Nevertheless, the omens usually are not good; they’ve performed 20 Premier League video games on the Etihad and not using a victory (drawn two, misplaced 18), probably the most any crew has performed at a stadium with out profitable within the competitors’s historical past.