(Football news) These two teams are now separated by eleven points in the standings, with Manchester City in third place and the Magpies six spots further down in ninth.
Following three straight losses at the end of 2023 and a 4-2 away loss to Liverpool in their first away game of the New Year, Newcastle made manager Eddie Howe’s pressure start to mount with a much-needed 3-0 away victory over Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup third round last weekend.
After Dan Ballard’s own goal in the first half, Isak scored twice to help the Magpies defeat the Black Cats and win the title for the first time since 2011. Howe was rewarded for selecting a solid starting team, even if it was partially forced upon him due to the club’s injury situation.
In the EFL Cup, Newcastle defeated Man City 1-0 in their most recent meeting four months ago, thanks to a goal from Isak in the second half. Although they will play Fulham in the fourth round later this month, Newcastle must first focus on their trip to Man City this Saturday.
Though they have only won one, drawn five, and lost 26 of their previous 32 top-flight meetings with the Citizens, the Magpies’ Premier League record against them is very dismal, with their lone victory coming at home in January 2019 by a score of 2-1.
Newcastle could fall 14 points behind the top four if other results go against them, which would seriously jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the Champions League the following season. A loss on Saturday would be their tenth in the top flight this season, which is twice as many as they had during the whole of the previous campaign.
The FA Cup champions Man City also made it safely to the fourth round after defeating Championship team Huddersfield Town 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium the previous weekend, extending their winning streak to eight games across all competitions.
