Newcastle United v Manchester City: Premier League – live | Premier League

1 min Peep peep! Newcastle kick off from left to right as we watch, and Harvey Barnes has a shot blocked inside 25 seconds.

A reminder of the teams

Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; J Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Dubravka, Krafth, Osula, Livramento, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, A Murphy.

Man City (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland.
Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Doku, Savinho, Nunes, Foden, McAtee.

Referee Jarred Gillett.

“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas, our Australia Newcastle correspondent. “Hope you’re well. Firstly, I hope Darren Eales gets better. No popcorn and no kale chips tonight: I’ve been on an MSG/chilli sauce/French fries binge from around midday, and there’s a melted M&M McFlurry (with a flake and caramel topping) being salvaged in the freezer.

“There is definitely something to winning points when playing badly, but since the fourth place finish, some Newcastle ‘stars’ have seemed weighed down rather than galvanised. Oasis Breakup Reboot FC are the last team you want rolling into toon at a time when things aren’t clicking.

“Early days in the season but nonetheless, some red flags appearing on and off the pitch…”

This business with Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe sounds a bit weird. Not sure how that can end with everyone enjoying milk and cookies.

“I had a dream for two nights running that Kyle Walker is going to have a nightmare game against Newcastle,” writes David Bronstein. “Visions of an own goal and or a red card. You heard it here first.”

Have you been on the funky cheese again?

He’s on the bench today. Cheers, Pep.

2 February 2025, 4.30pm (probably)

Three changes for Newcastle from last weekend’s defeat at Fulham. Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali (starting his first Premier League game in a year) and Jacob Murphy replace Lloyd Kelly, Joe Willock and the injured Alexander Isak.

Pep Guardiola has picked two players to replace Rodri, with Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic coming into midfield. Jack Grealish also starts after creating the equaliser against Arsenal last weekend. Savinho and Jeremy Doku are on the bench.

Hello and welcome to Life Without Rodri, a real-time existential play involving an association football club called Manchester City. They will be without the world’s most influential player (arguably, but I don’t want an argument so channel it elsewhere please) for the rest of the season, starting today with an awkward trip to St James’ Park. Have the popcorn/kale chips at the ready.

Kick-off: 12.30pm BST