Chris Sutton predicts Manchester City vs Newcastle United after major U-turn

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Chris Sutton is adamant that Newcastle United will score against Manchester City on Saturday.

The Magpies travel to the Etihad Stadium this weekend, as they turn their attention back to the Premier League amid the Carabao Cup final excitement.

Newcastle United are going to a ground where they always struggle. The Magpies have only ever won once at the Etihad, while their last away win over Man City came back in 2000.

But Pep Guardiola’s side are fragile at this moment in time. They are yet to truly re-find their best form, which is why Paul Merson thinks Newcastle will beat Man City.

However, Chris Sutton disagrees.

Chris Sutton predicts Manchester City vs Newcastle United

As part of his Premier League predictions for BBC Sport, Chris Sutton has tipped Man City to win against Newcastle.

However, he was actually going to go the other way and back Eddie Howe until he realised how bad Newcastle’s record at the Etihad is.

“I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 live and there is no way City are keeping a clean sheet,” he said.

“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 does not 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 may 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.

“I don’t think it will make much difference who City start in goal, because Ederson and Stefan Ortega have both made mistakes this season, but it is going to be interesting to see who Pep Guardiola picks with the second leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid coming up next week.”

Sutton’s prediction: Manchester City 2 Newcastle United 1

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	Man CityManchester City	24	12	5	7	48	35	13	41
6	NewcastleNewcastle	24	12	5	7	42	29	13	41
7	B’mouthBournemouth	24	11	7	6	41	28	13	40

The last Newcastle United player to score away to Manchester City

Newcastle’s record at the Etihad really is appalling. Since Man City moved there, Newcastle have won just once. They have lost 18 times, plus two draws.

Not only do Newcastle struggle to get a result at the Etihad, they actually struggle to find the back of the net.

The last time Newcastle United actually scored a goal at the Etihad was September 1st 2018. On that day, DeAndre Yedlin found the net for Rafa Benitez’s side in a 2-1 defeat.

Since then, the Magpies have gone six games at the Etihad without scoring a goal.

That will hopefully change on Saturday, with Alexander Isak eager to continue his incredible form. Elsewhere, Anthony Gordon is fit to play after missing the FA Cup win over Birmingham City with a thigh issue.

They both feature in Geordie Boot Boys’ predicted Newcastle United XI to face Manchester City.