Over the years, Newcastle’s aggregate scoreline against Man City at the Etihad is a whopping 54-8.

We don’t tend to do well in the blue half of Manchester and last won at City way back in 2014, where Rolando Aarons scored in a League Cup win over the reigning Champions.

However, if a Newcastle team featuring Colback, Sissoko, Obertan and Aarons could beat a City team with Toure, Silva, Fernandinho and Milner 11 years ago, there is no reason Isak, Bruno, Gordon and Tonali can’t do the same today!

As usual, Paul Merson has been discussing the match in his weekly prediction piece, looking at both sides and assessing how he thinks it will pan out.

Merson predicts Man City vs Newcastle

Belive it or not, Merson is backing us to end our Etihad drought with a 2-1 win, declaring he would be “shocked” if we were beaten given Man City’s current issues.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, the Sky Sports pundit feels Eddie Howe’s Mags will be a “massive challenge” for City, who have this game sandwiched between a vital Champions League play-off decider against Real Madrid.

“The big problem for Manchester City is that they have to face Real Madrid just four days after this game,” he said. “This is why the Premier League is tough. Real Madrid were in action against Atleti four days before the first leg against City, but that happens only once in a blue moon in LaLiga!

“Newcastle at home will be a massive challenge for City. I don’t know what I will get from City anymore. The way City started that game against Real Madrid, they could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 down in the opening stages. Later they got a grip on things and looked like their best self before giving it away in the end. They are too up and down during games and that’s a problem.”

“Newcastle will have one eye on the Carabao Cup final and that could be a problem in the race for top four. The players could even hold themselves back due to the fear of getting injured and missing the cup final. If you’re a Newcastle fan, you would pick the Carabao Cup trophy any day instead of a place in the Champions League though! I’m not sure the owners will think the same way, but Newcastle fans know this is their best chance of tasting some silverware again.

“I don’t see how Man City can win this game and I’d be shocked if Newcastle get beat, even though they’re away from home.”

Merson’s prediction: Man City 1-2 Newcastle

Howe wary of City – despite recent form

Man City may have conceded 15 goals in their last six and currently sit 16 points behind league leaders Liverpool, but Eddie Howe is still expecting a very tough game today.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Howe said: “We know it will be a very difficult game. They are still a very good team, for me they are still the benchmark, we will have to try and deliver our best performance to get the result we want from this match.

“They have a very good squad, have made some good additions in January. We need to produce in all aspects of our play to be competitive.”