Predicted Starting Line-Up: Newcastle United vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday lunchtime, as they travel to the North-East to face Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Just six days after their clash with Arsenal, and four days after the triumph over Watford, the gruelling schedule lives up to its standards once more, with the Premier League champions back in action once again.

Manchester City dropped points for the first time this season against Arsenal last weekend, with a 2-2 draw against an Arsenal side that camped inside their own penalty area for the best part of an hour in the second-half.

However, the one point instead of three was not the biggest concern for Pep Guardiola. The Catalan coach confirmed on Friday afternoon that Rodri, who was substituted in the first half of the game, will miss the rest of the season with an ACL and meniscus injury.

Additionally, Pep Guardiola also confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will not be fit for this one, with the Belgian likely to return after the next international break in October, giving more midfield woes for the champions.

The two aforementioned midfielders, as well as Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb, will be the only absentees for Saturday’s game, with the blues having a fully-fit squad otherwise. Newcastle may be without star striker Aleksander Isak, who is doubtful with a broken toe.

Ahead of the clash with the Magpies, Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on the opposition, in saying, “Newcastle is Newcastle… The team is one of the most tough, and strongest, especially away for the atmosphere in this marvellous stadium.”

Pep Guardiola continued, “We are going to be ready to go to the battle.” With that being said, here is the side we think will be tasked with shutting out Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, and returning to Manchester with all three points on Saturday.

Predicted XI

After Stefan Ortega Moreno made his first outing of the season during the week in his traditional cup competition goalkeeping duties, Ederson will return between the sticks this time around.

Rico Lewis also started against Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, but we expect the 19-year-old to keep his place instead of Kyle Walker on the right of defence, perhaps inverting into a defensive midfield support role.

In the centre of defence, Ruben Dias is likely to return to the partnership this time around having been granted a night off in midweek, and we think he will be partnering Manuel Akanji at the back.

Josko Gvardiol replaced 16-year-old Academy starlet Kaden Braithwaite against Watford in the teenager’s senior professional debut, but we suspect the Croatian will *just about* get the nod for this one.

In the absence of Rodri, as Manchester City embark on their first of many matches without this year’s Ballon d’Or contender, we think Mateo Kovacic will start this one at the base of midfield.

Ilkay Gundogan made his first start of the season last weekend against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, and we think that will be the same on Saturday lunchtime, starting the contest alongside Phil Foden to complete the midfield trio.

It was the brilliance of Savinho that unlocked the Arsenal defence last weekend, and with the Brazilian still searching for his first Manchester City goal, we think he will start this one on the right of the front-three.

Who else but Erling Haaland to lead the line for this one? After scoring a century of goals in a Manchester City shirt last weekend, we don’t expect it to stop any time soon having returned to the club following a week off and a trip to Norway for personal reasons.

It is a complete toss up for the left-wing role for this one, but we think Jack Grealish might be given the nod by Pep Guardiola ahead of Jeremy Doku, completing the attack and the starting XI for this one.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Walker, Stones, Braithwaite, Nunes, Bernardo, McAtee, Doku.