Manchester City vs Newcastle: Premier League Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups and Fantasy XI

Manchester City vs Newcastle: One of the biggest games of the weekend in the Premier League sees Newcastle United travel to Manchester City in an effort to put the Carabao Cup final defeat behind them.

Match Details:

• Location: Manchester, England
• Stadium: Etihad Stadium
• Date: Saturday 4 March
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 GMT / 07:30 ET / 04:30 PT
• Referee: Simon Hooper
• VAR: Michael Salisbury

Manchester City vs Newcastle: Match Preview:

The Magpies were beaten 2-0 at Wembley by Manchester United and will now be trying to get the better of the other Manchester club. City need to respond to Arsenal's 4-0 win over Everton on Wednesday night with a five-point gap now in effect with the same number of games played.

Newcastle know they have work to do to get back into the top four so they will be playing to win at the Etihad. Here is everything you need to know about the game.

Team News:

Manchester City:

John Stones is still a doubt for Man City after he suffered a hamstring injury against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. He may be back in the squad here but is not expected to start the game.

Staying in defence, Aymeric Laporte has been absent for the last three games due to an illness but could make his return against Eddie Howe's side on Saturday lunchtime.

Back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega may also return to the fold after a hand injury but he was never expected to feature regardless.

Newcastle:

Newcastle are expected to be without both Matt Targett and Joe Willock for the trip to Manchester. Evaluations will be carried out on Bruno Guimaraes as he played while seemingly carrying an injury in the Carabao Cup final defeat.

Howe is glad to have both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson to choose from in attack and may look to rotate the team slightly after such a tough game against Manchester United. Nick Pope, who missed that game due to a red card against Liverpool, will come back in for Martin Dubravka.

Manchester City vs Newcastle: Head to Head:

In 27 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Manchester City have won 22 games, lost two and drawn three.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has scored 27 league goals in 23 starts this season for Manchester City.

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has 12 assists in 21 league starts for Manchester City this season.

Paraguayan attacker Miguel Almiron has 10 goals in 23 league starts for Newcastle United this season.

Striker Callum Wilson has 10 goal contributions in 14 league starts for Newcastle United so far.

Predicted Line-ups:

Man City predicted lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte; Gundogan, Rodri; Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.

Newcastle predicted lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Saint-Maximin.

MCI vs NEW: Fantasy XI

Pope; Dias, Laporte,Schar; Gundogan,Rodri, Guimaraes, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland, Saint-Maximin.