Newcastle United will host the reigning champions Manchester City to St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Benitez’s side have picked up a solitary win in their last six league games and sit only two points clear of the drop zone.
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As for the Citizens, they have found their form at the right time and have been on somewhat of a rampage recently, having net 28 goals without reply in their last six games.
In the reverse fixture at the Etihad, Newcastle upset City for large spells of the match, with Martin Dubravka pulling off a stunning triple save to keep Newcastle well and truly in the tie.
A Kyle Walker shot from distance proved to be the downfall of a very resolute Newcastle backline and the game ended 2-1 to the defending champions.
This time around, the circumstances are well and truly different.
Manchester City have lost only three times in their last 33 away games in the league, scoring more than twice in six of their last seven (home and away).
Newcastle, by stark contrast, have failed to score in each of their last three home Premier League matches and could find themselves back in the relegation zone depending on results around them.
The narrative strongly favours Manchester City to emerge with three points, and pressurise Liverpool who play Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday night.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED STARTING XI
(5-4-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Schar, Lascelles, Ritchie; Ayoze, Hayden, Longstaff, Atsu; Rondon
MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI
(3-5-2): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte; Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Sane; Aguero, Jesus
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
