EFL Cup: Manchester City vs Newcastle United preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

The Cityzens head into the second leg, leading the tie 2-0 thanks to goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. 

• Manchester City to win 

• Semenyo to score

• Both teams to score

City arrive here after stuttering in their bid to catch Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola’s men lost a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday, a big blow considering the Gunners won 4-0 against Leeds the previous day.

However, Guardiola and his boys will look to quikcly put that aside in hope to get close to another trophy, as they look to eliminate the current EFL Cup holders in the competition. 

The Cityzens have often performed well when they get to this stage of this competition, advancing from each of their last six semi-finals, and lifting the trophy those times.

Newcastle have a huge job in their hands, but their form suggest that they will fall short of achieving any turnaround. The Magpies have won just once in normal time across the last seven competitive games (D3, L3). 

Eddie Howe’s side lost 4-1 at Liverpool on Saturday despite scoring first, making it their sixth domestic loss since the start of October, with only one win in that time.

Newcastle have advanced twice in their last two meetings with City in this competitions, and . they beat Guardiola’s side 2-1 in the Premier League earlier in this campaign. However, the last time they avoided defeat at the Etihad was in 2014-15.

Man City will be without Jeremy Doku (calf), Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture), John Stones (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (ankle/heel) and Savinho (unspecified), who are all out injured.

Meanwhile, Marc Guehi is ineligible after he was signed after their first-leg.

Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes has missed the last two matches for Newcastle, while Sven Botman and Lewis Miley have thigh and ankle injuries, respectively.

Joelinton (groin), Tino Livramento (hamstring), Fabian Schar (ankle) and Emil Krafth (knee) are also injured.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly; Cherki, Bernardo; Semenyo, Haaland

Newcastle United possible starting lineup: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Willock, Tonali, Ramsey; Barnes, Wissa, Gordon

City are in a driver’s seat and they have home support behind them for this one. The Magpies have also struggled in recent times, making the likelihood of a comeback small.

Correct score: Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United