After another bonkers game at St James’ Park on Saturday, Newcastle are back in action on Tuesday night for our fourth home games in just 10 days.
It’s been a hectic start to 2026, in more ways than one, but a successful one so far, seeing us beat Crystal Palace 2-0 and Leeds 4-3 before a shootout victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round.
120 minutes of football was probably the last thing this injury-hit squad needed while Man City strolled to a 10-1 win over Exeter that same afternoon. However, it’s another win, another hurdle overcome and one that keeps the momentum building heading into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Fatigue levels are a concern and we’ve been left threadbare at the back, but with a win over Man City earlier this season and 11 wins (and two draws) from our last 13 at home, we come into this one with genuine belief as we bid to defend our the cup.
Speaking ahead of the game during Monday’s press conference, Eddie Howe said:
“They (Man City) are a very difficult team to play against, they always change things up tactically, a difficult team to plan and prepare for. The priority is what we do and how we can hurt them. We need to give the best account of ourselves.”
“Physical levels and energy levels are of the up most importance for this game. We will have to make decisions based on that.
“This is a huge challenge, some players have just played 120 minutes and then a few days later are being asked to go again, but I’d like to think, physically and mentally, come kick-off we will be ready to go again.”
Team news
Fabian Schar (ankle) and Tino Livramento (hamstring) are both facing spells on the sidelines, but Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga could return.
Dan Burn, Will Osula, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles remain out, leaving us light on defensive cover and needing to recover after another quick turnaround between games.
For Man City, captain Ruben Dias and centre-back partner Josko Gvardiol are both missing, but a change in Carabao Cup rules will allow new signing Antoine Semenyo to play.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Pope – Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Barnes, Wissa, Gordon.
OUT: Ramsdale, Trippier, Livramento, Ramsey, Willock, Woltemade.
IN: Pope, Miley, Hall, Bruno, Joelinton, Gordon.
I think Pope will return despite Ramsdale’s penalty heroics and expect Miley and Hall to return at full-back, with Trippier looking off the pace on Saturday and Livramento injured.
In midfield, Bruno and Joelinton will return, and you’d expect Tonali to keep his place despite giving his all for 120 minutes on Saturday.
In attack, I think Wissa’s pace and movement could be Howe’s preference against an injury-hit Man City back line, with the in-form Barnes on the right and Gordon down the left.
Match prediction
I’m sure we’ll be up for it and high energy from the off, but how we manage to maintain that after such an energy-sapping week is the big question.
We must also improve defensively, as Haaland, Foden, Doku and Cherki could have a field day if we don’t improve on the showings that saw us concede six against Leeds and Bournemouth last week.
At the other end, however, City are missing their two starting centre-backs and may struggle to deal with our physicality in midfield and/or pace in attack.
So, all in all, I can see us starting well and scoring a couple, I just fear for us defensively, where we’ll need to be far more organised to keep out a potent City attack.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Man City
Howay the lads!
We have to keep it tighter than the last 2 home games!!
City have the players to really punish us & this is a 2 legged fixture – we NEED to still be in it going down to their place.
Ideally we want to be taking a lead down there – even if it’s a slender one. A draw wouldn’t be terrible, but chasing them down could be an impossible task.
Our midfield need to find that steel again because I think that’s where the game could be won or lost.
As long as we are still in with a fighting chance going into the second leg I’ll be happy.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I do think that we could beat either Chelsea or Arsenal in a one off game – especially a final again.
But we will have to earn it getting passed City.
Dropping £65m on Semenyo despite this rule breach STILL not being finalised shows things STILL haven’t been addressed in making the league fair.
Sharpy17(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t worry, Eddie has reassured us that he hopes to have Krafth fit for the second leg, ready to save our season. Who needs signings!
The Panther(Quote)
I think city will paste us sadly. I think this is where the cup ends for us. We are just too leaky in defence and too sloppy with our passing and possession. Sadly, I can see 3-1 to City and a mountain to climb for us down there. I hope I’m wrong, but judging by how much we struggled against both Leeds and Bournemouth I just cannot see us getting a win.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Villa away in the next round of the FA is going to be a real challenge! I see the 4 remaining septic 6 teams all get relatively easy games again. It’s almost as if they knew which balls are which before the draw. 🙄🤷🏻♂️😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are currently playing bingo football with a shaky defence and brittle confidence .. the last 4 games we could have easily lost.. not confident about this or villa away .. my sad prediction is out of both cups .. which might give us a chance at top 4
Mike(Quote)
Mike ‘Could of lost our last four wins’ By that thinking how many of our previous losses could we have won?
nutmag(Quote)
So we have a ref from Manchester for a game between Manchester City and the Toon. So does that mean we get Michael Oliver for the return fixture? 😡😡😡
Barnes on the bench. Not surprised, we start with Wissa, Murphy and Gordon up front. I still think we get smashed tonight. Just watch Semenyo score against now they’ve conveniently changed the cup tied rules … 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
hwtl
kimtoon(Quote)
Why no yellow for that by Semeneyo
kimtoon(Quote)
Not good seeing Murphy go off
kimtoon(Quote)
Very cagey first half, but Wissa man, should be 2 up! How did he miss?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well that’s *****, the new rule paying off for City Semenyo scores
kimtoon(Quote)
FFS … I said Semenyo would score against us 🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Again…. but really that’s not offside. What are they looking at ffs. I mean, I hope they don’t give it but it’s not offside.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We got lucky there. But really?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Popes gotta do better there
kimtoon(Quote)
Now we have to play a game already 2.0 down
kimtoon(Quote)
Not the result our performance deserved. I thought that was one of our better performances but ultimately their attacking quality (and our lack of it) was the difference.
Wolte, Wissa and Elanga were poor. Miley was good, hall outstanding and Barnes made a difference when he came on. Murphy was very good in the first half too – hopefully not out for long.
Oh, and Bernardo Silva should have got at least 2 yellow cards…
Howe the toon(Quote)
Another rule change benefits a top 6 side, only the likes of City can afford to go out and bring in a player like Seymenyo in Jan and use him in a cup game, even though he’s already played in it.
Also ever since we won that cup other teams have called it tin pot but it clearly does still matter going off City tonight.
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s a killer. Over now for us I think. We will not come back from 2-0 down away at their ground. 🤬🤬
So many missed chances.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Absolutely Kim
Gilly Toon(Quote)
100% right. It’s absolutely blatant. Slightly unlucky tonight against a team that just buy whoever they want whenever they want….for their ‘genius’ manager obviously.
Fine margins. Let’s face it though, no-one outside of possibly arsenal could beat them over 2 legs. We were never going to win this cup twice in a yr but the next one won’t be too long either. KTF
East Stand(Quote)
To be the best you have to beat the best! We didn’t but were getting nearer
‘Settee 155’ as I call them, get all the breaks. Just think how long it took for them to make a mark spending their millions without restriction like a drunken sailor.
Did think if we had Walt on first half would he have got the chances Wissa missed, and would Wissa have been better for those chances in the box second half?
We still have ninety minutes to go. HWTL
nutmag(Quote)
Inclined to agree .
kimtoon(Quote)