Manchester City host Newcastle once again, as they look to narrow the gap to Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League table.

It seems like every week I am writing this preview, as these two sides meet for the fourth time this season in a match one of my Liverpool-supporting friends dubbed the ‘Oil Firm’.

Whether because of the frequency with which it is played or because both clubs are backed by Middle Eastern Oil reserves, I don’t know, but either way, it made me laugh.

These two sides will play each other in the FA Cup in two weeks, whilst there is also the possibility that they could face each other in the UEFA Champions League.

Man City arrive here looking to close the gap to Arsenal to just two points, after the Gunners forfeited a 2-0 lead away to Championship-bound Wolves during the week.

Manager Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, losing just one of their last 14 league matches since succumbing to Newcastle at St James’ Park in November.

City came out on top in both Carabao Cup semi-final ties, but Newcastle have rediscovered form in recent weeks.

Newcastle enjoyed a holiday to Azerbaijan during the week, hammering a Qarabag side that I am convinced a bunch of 12-year-olds could give a good game. That said, Chelsea couldn’t beat them.

That 6-1 win is the latest of three consecutive wins for Newcastle, all of which came away from home – staggering, I know.

What are the best bets for Manchester City vs Newcastle?

To the rest of the league and soccer fans across the globe, this match probably looks a lot tighter on paper than it is in reality.

The last time Newcastle defeated Manchester at the Etihad Stadium – in the Premier League – Alan Shearer was on the scoresheet, and I was two years old.

I have considerably more hair than Shearer nowadays, and in fairness, probably did back then too, but you get the point.

The Etihad has seen City score 29 goals against Newcastle since the Magpies were promoted back in 2017, and in that time, Newcastle have managed just three goals.

I am also not going to let a warm-weather training session or wins against 10-man Aston Villa and Tottenham cloud the fact that Newcastle have been terrible on the road this season, however well they have played in recent weeks.

I’m backing City to win by a -2 handicap, though I sincerely hope everything that I have just written turns out to be wrong, and Eddie Howe’s side win 4-0.

Omar Marmoush always scores against Newcastle, so back him if he starts, but I’ll take Bernardo Silva to score or assist. He has scored three times in his last six matches against Newcastle.

What is Man City’s current form?

D-W-W-W-W

What is Newcastle’s current form?

L-L-W-W-W

What were the results of the last five head-to-head matches between Man City and Newcastle?

04/02/25 Man City 3-1 Newcastle (Carabao Cup – SF: 2nd leg)

13/01/25 Newcastle 0-2 Man City (Carabao Cup – SF: 1st leg)

22/11/25 Newcastle 2-1 Man City (EPL)

15/2/25 – Man City 4-0 Newcastle (EPL)

28/09/24 – Newcastle 1-1 Man City (EPL)

What is Man City’s predicted team?

Donnarumma – Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait Nouri – Silva, Rodri, O’Reilly – Foden, Haaland, Semenyo

Injured: Kovacic, Gvardiol, Savinho

Doubt: Doku, Alleyne

What is Newcastle’s predicted team?

Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Willock, Tonali, Ramsey – Barnes, Gordon, Elanga

Injured: Schar, Krafth, Livramento, Guimaraes, Miley

Doubt: Wissa

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