Newcastle v Man City predictions: City on course to extend winning run

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Newcastle United v Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Man City win to nil
1pt 5-6 bet365, Betfair, Power

Team news

Newcastle
Allan Saint-Maximin was struggling before being substituted against Liverpool on Thursday and will have to be assessed. Jamal Lewis is ruled out.

Manchester City
Ferran Torres remains absent but Joao Cancelo returns from suspension.

Match preview

Premier League leaders Manchester City are notoriously strong front runners and they can heap more pressure on their title rivals by easing past Newcastle at St James' Park.

Pep Guardiola's side have racked up seven successive top flight wins, scoring 20 goals and conceding three, and it is hard to see their defence being breached by the Magpies, who are getting sucked deeper and deeper into the relegation scrap.

Newcastle fans can't wait for the opening of the January transfer window but the persuading fresh talent to join the club is becoming a tougher task with every defeat.

Eddie Howe is desperately looking for positives and tried to put a positive spin on his team's 3-1 loss at Liverpool on Thursday.

There were a few bright moments from Howe's men, who threatened on the break and briefly forged ahead thanks to Jonjo Shelvey's superb seventh-minute strike.

But Newcastle were trailing within 20 minutes of taking the lead and they were at least as much to blame for the turnaround as the officiating of referee Mike Dean.

It was hard not to sympathise with Newcastle over Diogo Jota's controversial equaliser, but the second goal was down to a basic error and continued a trend of dreadful defending which has blighted their season.

The Magpies have the worst defensive record in the division with 37 goals conceded and they must offer greater protection to Martin Dubravka if they are to have any hope of survival.

Offensively, they carry a threat with the pace of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, yet it is doubtful whether either will receive the ball enough to ask serious questions of City.

While Liverpool - minus the absent Fabinho and Virgil Van Dijk – looked vulnerable to basic counter-thrusts, City have become very clever at mopping up moments of danger.

The intensity of City's press makes it so difficult for opposition teams to get any quality service into forward players, and their general discipline and work ethic have contributed to the best defensive record in the league with just nine goals conceded.

Ederson has been a virtual spectator in recent games - City allowed just two shots in the 1-0 success at home to Wolves and six in the 7-0 trouncing of Leeds.

The Brazilian is unlikely to be any busier on Tyneside and the prospects of an 11th City clean sheet of the league campaign are strong enough to justify a wager on the away side to win to nil.

Key stat

Manchester City have won their last two games without conceding a goal.

Inside info

Newcastle

Penalty taker Callum Wilson
Free-kick wizard Jonjo Shelvey
Set-piece aerial threat Jamaal Lascelles
Card magnet Jamaal Lascelles

Manchester City

Penalty taker Kevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Free-kick wizardKevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Set-piece aerial threatAymeric Laporte
Card magnetJoao Cancelo

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