Premier League preview: Manchester City v Newcastle

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium

New Manchester City signing Fernandinho could play against Newcastle on Monday night (GETTY IMAGES)

Manuel Pellegrini starts his reign as Manchester City manager in Monday evening’s kick-off. Having spent over £70m on new players over the summer expectations will be high and the club will hope that the new manager can wrestle the title away from their neighbours. Striker Carlos Tevez has left the club but the acquisition of Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo should mean that City have plenty of attacking options to bolster the teams goal tally this season.

Newcastle finished last season in 16th place and fans will be expecting a much improved position by the end of this season. Newcastle’s away form was particularly poor last season, winning only two games, and fans will be hoping that new signing Loic Remy (on loan from QPR) will help fill the gap left when Demba Ba joined Chelsea in the January transfer window. Former manager Joe Kinnear has also re-joined the club as director of football in what has been seen as a controversial appointment.

KICK-OFF: Monday, 8pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Man City 4 (Tevez, Silva, Kompany, Perch og) Newcastle 0, Premier League, March 2013

Newcastle 1 (Ba) Man City 3 (Aguero, Garcia, Y Toure), Premier League, December 2012

Newcastle 0 Man City 2 (Y Toure 2), Premier League, May 2012

STATS…

Newcastle have lost nine of their last ten games against Chelsea in the league and haven’t beaten them since September 2005.

Newcastle lead the head-to-head though having beaten Man City sixty four times in the league compared to fifty five wins for City.

Newcastle won only two away games last season, joint worst in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Man City had the second strongest home record, registering 14 wins at The Etihad.

ODDS...

Man City to win: 0.28

Newcastle to win: 11.0

Draw: 4.0

TV: Sky Sports 1, 8pm.