Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have disagreed on who will run out winners when Newcastle United travel to the Etihad Stadium for a game against Manchester City this weekend.
The Magpies will continue their quest for European qualification when they take on Pep Guardiola’s team for the second time this campaign on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Eddie Howe’s men will be hoping to take advantage of a City side still licking their wounds from Tuesday night’s last-gasp defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs.
But City have only lost one of their last six games in the Premier League – with only Arsenal bettering their return of 13 points during that period.
With two in-form teams taking to the field this Saturday, it’s no wonder Sutton and Merson are conflicted about who will pick up all three points.
In his BBC Sport column, former Chelsea, Blackburn and Celtic striker Sutton has predicted a 2-1 win for City.
“I’m at this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and there’s no way that City are keeping a clean sheet,” said Sutton. “In fact, until I realised just how bad Newcastle’s record is at the Etihad, I was thinking of backing Eddie Howe’s side to win.
“City have won the past 10 league games between the two sides here and my old Blackburn strike partner Alan Shearer got the winner the last time Newcastle took the points at City – in September 2000 – at their old Maine Road ground. That all points to a City win for me, far more than their current form does anyway.
“Let’s face it, form doesn’t really help me much anyway at the moment. Who could have seen Newcastle losing at home to Fulham in their last league game? So I might as well say a hoodoo like this one will continue and City will get over the line, even if Newcastle do definitely have a goal or two in them.”
Merson, meanwhile, is hoping the Magpies can do his former side, Arsenal, a huge favour this weekend and secure a historic 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
“The big problem for Manchester City is that they have to face Real Madrid just four days after this game,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda. “Newcastle at home will be a massive challenge for City.
“I don’t know what I will get from City anymore. The way City started that game against Real Madrid, they could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 down in the opening stages. Later they got a grip on things and looked like their best self before giving it away in the end.
“They are too up and down during games and that’s a problem. City have conceded plenty of late goals. That’s the sign of an ageing team, certain players get tired and it affects them… As a team, City don’t have a good 90 minutes in them anymore!
“I don’t see how Man City can win this game and I’d be shocked if Newcastle get beat, even though they’re away from home. My prediction for this one is Manchester City 1-2 Newcastle United.”
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