Mark Lawrenson expects Newcastle United will focus on stopping Manchester City running up the scoreline when they host Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday, via his BBC Sport column.
The Citizens thrashed Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday night to record their biggest win of the season so far. They were in scintillating form to dominate the Whites, and could have fired home even more goals after pulling Marcelo Bielsa’s defence apart at the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle have struggled to keep opposition sides from scoring in the Premier League this term. No team has allowed more goals than the Toon, who have shipped 37 in 17 games.
The Magpies kept their sole clean sheet of the campaign in their sole win over Burnley, too. Failing to keep a tight unit at the back additionally means Newcastle have the second-worst goal difference at minus-19, with only Norwich below the St James’ Park side on minus-26.
Norwich rank below relegation-rivals Newcastle for goal difference having scored just eight goals to the Magpies’ 18 so far. No team other than the Canaries has scored less than 10.
Lawrenson issues Newcastle vs Manchester City prediction
Lawrenson predicts Newcastle will now focus on keeping the scoreline down at home to Manchester City on Sunday to try and protect their goal difference as best as they can.
“Manchester City seem to have found it tricky at St James’ Park in recent years for various reasons and they have not yet taken Newcastle apart there the way they have demolished most teams at one time or another under Pep Guardiola,” Lawrenson wrote.
“This time, I think they will find it a lot easier. City showed against Leeds what kind of form they are in, while Newcastle go into the game after successive defeats at Leicester and Liverpool.
“I think the Magpies will end the week with another loss, and will just be hoping they don’t do more serious damage to their goal difference.”
Toon vs Citizens often a tight contest at St James’, but Magpies’ record is poor
Newcastle have won just one of their last 27 Premier League meetings with Manchester City home and away. Their sole win between 2006 and 2021 came at St James’ in January 2019, when Rafa Benitez led the Toon to a 2-1 win thanks to a late Matt Ritchie penalty.
United then held the Citizens to a 2-2 draw before losing 4-3 on the Etihad natives’ last visit to Tyneside. They have at most lost by two goals at home to the Sky Blues since 2005.
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