Manchester City host Newcastle United at the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday, as both teams look to bounce back from defeats in games leading up to the recent international break.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. Watch highlights on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.30pm GMT.

Manchester City
Reuters

Overview

City lost 2-0 to Everton at Goodsion Park two weeks ago, in what was surely the final nail in the champions' coffin, when it comes to defending their Premier League title. Roberto Mancini has conceded defeat in the race, as Manchester United are 15 points clear at the top, with just nine games to go. However, the Citizens will be keen to get back to winning ways, particularly with Chelsea, in third, closing the gap to just four points.

Newcastle, on the other hand, lost 2-1 at Wigan, in controversial fashion, in their last game. Alan Pardew's men sit 13th but are only six points clear of the relegation zone in a congested bottom half of the Premier League table. The Magpies are desperate to produce a good run as the defeat to the Latics was their third loss in the last five league matches.

History favours the champions as they enter this match; the Magpies have now suffered six successive Premier League defeats to City. City won the reverse fixture at St James' Park in December 3-1.

Form Guide

Manchester City

  • Last Five Games (all competitions, most recent first): L W W W W
  • Last Match: Everton 2 - 0 Manchester City

Newcastle United

  • Last Five Games (all competitions, most recent first): L W W D L
  • Last Match: Wigan Athletic 2 - 1 Newcastle United

Team News

Manchester City: Sergio Aguero is fit and could return to the starting line-up after missing the last three matches, while Vincent Kompany (calf) is also in contention after playing for Belgium in midweek. Micah Richards (knee) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are out of this clash but could be back next month, while Maicon (foot) remains sidelined.

Probable Line-up: (4-2-3-1) Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Y Toure, Barry; Silva, Tevez, Milner; Aguero

Newcastle United: Pardew faces a host of injury issues as his side visit Manchester. Mathieu Debuchy, Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa (all hamstring), Fabricio Coloccini (back), Tim Krul (ankle), Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Haris Vuckic (all knee) and Davide Santon (thigh) are all out of this clash. Massadio Haidara is also sidelined, despite avoiding serious knee injury after a high challenge from Callum McManaman two weeks ago, while Yohan Cabaye (groin) is a doubt.

Probable Line-up: (4-2-3-1) Elliot; Simpson, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Perch; Cabaye, Anita; Gouffran, Sissoko, Gutierrez; Cisse

Manchester United FC