Manchester City are chasing an unprecedented second treble-winning season, and are on a 21 match unbeaten run. In their way in this week’s FA Cup quarter final are Newcastle, who despite enduring a torrid 2024, did knock Pep Guardiola’s men out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the season. Here’s our City XI to face the Magpies.
Man City predicted lineup analysis
We predict that City will continue in their usual fluid 4-3-3 shape, transitioning into a 3-2-4-1 in possession.
Goalkeepers and defenders:
Stefan Ortega
Ederson had a tough trip to Anfield last weekend. The Brazilian gave away a penalty, when we swept up Darwin Nunez’ legs instead of the ball after a short back-pass from Nathan Ake. To add insult to injury, he was injured in doing so.
Stefan Ortega came on and deputised well, and with Ederson reportedly out several weeks, will continue between the sticks to play Newcastle United.
Kyle Walker
Perhaps Newcastle’s biggest threat on the break is the electric pace of Anthony Gordon. And there is no better defender against electric pace than Kyle Walker.
The 33-year-old seems to be evergreen and is always a nailed on starter in City’s run-in every season. Walker got an assist last time out against Newcastle, and is at 3/1 to score or assist this weekend.
Ruben Dias
After sitting on the bench at Anfield, Ruben Dias will almost certainly start this one. Newcastle is a near-perfect match up for Dias. The Magpies are a physical and aggressive side, and Dias is well acquitted to deal with that kind of challenge.
Josko Gvardiol
22-year-old Croatian Josko Gvardiol has had a solid, if understated start to life in Manchester following his £90m transfer from RB Leipzig.
He has shared the left side of defence with Nathan Ake this season. As the Dutchman started at Anfield, we expect Gvardiol to play this one.
Midfielders:
Rico Lewis
John Stones showed just how key he is to City at the weekend, scoring the opener at Anfield. Stones’ ability to push into midfield from defence is crucial to how City play.
But with Stones’ injury record, he will likely be rested in this cup fixture. Rico Lewis is also able to push into midfield from defence (albeit from wide rather than centre-back), so we predict he’ll be Pep’s pick here against Newcastle.
Rodri
No City lineup is complete without Rodri. He has only lost one match in the last year for Manchester City, the Community Shield on penalties to Arsenal.
Rodri plays nearly every City game. The midfielder is indispensable, and they always look lost without him.
Phil Foden
Despite a relatively quiet trip to Anfield, Phil Foden has stepped up another level this season. He has won games on his own, as he recently did with a fantastic brace in the Manchester derby.
He has 18 goals and 10 assists in all competitions already, and has been one of Europe’s best players. Foden could get another chance in a more central role in this one, and is priced at 15/8 to score in a City win.
Matheus Nunes
In his last appearance, Matheus Nunes suffered a sickening finger dislocation, which summed out his tough start to life in Manchester.
Nunes is up to the physical challenge Newcastle will pose, but could do with a strong performance to resuscitate his faltering City career.
Attackers:
Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva is Pep’s Swiss Army knife. The diminutive Portuguese is intelligent and technical enough to play all over the pitch, with a lung-busting engine to match.
We expect Silva to start on the right, and after he scored a sumptuous goal to open the scoring away to Newcastle, he is at 12/1 to score the opener again.
Erling Haaland
A big part of City’s 2024 resurgence has been Erling Haaland’s return to full fitness. The big Norwegian has scored 10 goals this calendar already.
After a blank against Liverpool, Haaland will be determined to net this time out.
Jeremy Doku
After an characteristically blistering fast start to his City career, Jeremy Doku has slowed down a little, with only one goal and no assists in his last 17 appearances.
The 21-year-old Belgian came within a whisker of scoring a winner off the bench against Liverpool last week, and Pep will probably give him an opportunity to get back on form against the Magpies.
