Manchester City vs. Newcastle United Prediction, 7/8/20

A shock 1-0 defeat at Southampton on the weekend takes 2nd-placed Manchester City to a home contest against 12th-placed Newcastle United, who are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games. Kick-off - at 13:00 PM ET on Wednesday, July 8.

City Get Stunned By Southampton

Manchester City lost for the second time in their past three Premier League outings (W1 L2) after dropping a 1-0 decision against Southampton away at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday. Making six changes to the side that thrashed newly-crowned champions Liverpool 4-0 on Thursday, the Citizens went a goal down 16 minutes into the game after goalie Ederson was lobbed from 40 yards out following a mistake by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Subsequently, City outshot the hosts 26-8, recording the highest amount of attempts by a road team this season, but failed to get past an in-form Saints’ goalie. Manager Pep Guardiola has now lost three straight away league games for the first time in his managerial career, with his team sitting 2nd in the standings (21 D3 L9), having dropped more points this season (33) than in the previous two combined.

Four City players are on double digits for league snipes this year, with injured Sergio Aguero (16), Raheem Sterling (13), Kevin De Bruyne (11) and Gabriel Jesus (10) all on the list. Goalie Ederson, meanwhile, sits 17th in the EPL with 61 saves. He has picked up 12 clean sheets in 30 contests during the ongoing campaign and allows a goal every 97 minutes on average. The Citizens have netted the absolute highest number of goals this year (81) while delivering the highest quantity of shots per game (19.2). The team is top of the league in both ball possession (61.7%) and passing accuracy (89.1%).

Newcastle Draw With West Ham

The unbeaten streak of Newcastle United extended to six league games (W3 D3) after the team split points with West Ham United following a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park on Sunday. The Magpies were forced to tie the game on two occasions, with Miguel Almiron canceling out Hammers’ opener at the start of the first half, and Jonjo Shelvey tying the game at 2-2 with less than 25 minutes to go after the visitors took a 2-1 lead two minutes earlier. Leading the Premier League with eight home stalemates this season, Newcastle have extended their unbeaten domestic run to six matches (W2 D4), currently sitting 12th in the standings (W11 D10 L12), trailing the top-seven by six points.

English midfielder Shelvey leads the Magpies with six Premier League markers, having matched his best goal-tally from 2013-14, when he played for Swansea City. Goalie Martin Dubravka, meanwhile, tops England’s top tier with 124 saves made this season. He has recorded 10 clean sheets in 33 contests during the ongoing campaign and concedes a goal every 66 minutes of play. Newcastle are 14th in most league markers scored this year (35), 15th in most shots taken per game (10.5), the bottom of the league in ball possession (41.9%), and 16th in passing accuracy (75.1%).

Prediction

Manchester City might have lost two of their past three Premier League outings (W1 L2). Still, both defeats have happened on the road and in most unusual circumstances, with a late penalty and a red card determining the outcome of their 2-1 loss at Chelsea, and complete absence of luck contributing to a 1-0 slip-up versus Southampton on Sunday. On own turf, though, the Citizens have been a force since the restart of England’s top-flight, winning three straight games with a combined score of 12-0. Newcastle have been in great shape lately, going unbeaten for six straight league fixtures (W3 D3), and have lost just one of their past three meetings with City in all competitions (W1 D1 L1). The Magpies have, however, lost 10 straight trips to see off the Citizens in the EPL and have already failed to score a single snipe in four of their past nine league contests this season.

Best bet:

Manchester City to win to nil (-150)

Author Profile
Valdis Pans

Biography coming soon!