John Stones makes his first appearance of the season while Bernardo Silva also starts as City make two changes for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United.

England international Stones, who has had to bide his time so far this term, comes into central defence in place of Ruben Dias who moves to the bench.

Bernardo, meanwhile, is also handed a starting berth in place of Riyad Mahrez in the only other change from the side that beat Bournemouth 4-0 last weekend.

New signing Sergio Gomez, who joined the Club from Anderlecht earlier this week signing a four-year deal, is named amongst the substitutes.

Kalvin Phillips and Cole Palmer, who missed last Saturday’s Bournemouth win with minor niggles, are both fit again and also take their place on the bench.

Jack Grealish is an absentee as a result of a knock he picked up in that Bournemouth win.

Teams

Newcastle XI: Pope, Burn, Botman, Schar, Trippier, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Willock, Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Almiron.

Subs: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Fraser, Ritchie, Murphy, Anderson, Longstaff, Wood.

City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan ©, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland, Bernardo

Subs: Ortega, Dias, Phillips, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Mbete, Palmer, Lewis

Formation

Pep Guardiola again looks set to deploy the 4-3-3 system that has been the bedrock of our amazing success over the past few seasons.

Ederson will be the familiar figure in goal with a back four of Kyle Walker, Stones, Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo offering reassuring defensive cover.

Rodrigo is once again entrusted with the holding midfield role with Kevin De Bruyne and skipper Ilkay Gundogan also in the midfield engine room.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland is once again set to be the central focal point in our attack with Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden - who makes his 100th Premier League appearance, becoming the second youngest City player to do so after Micah Richards - also likely to feature in our attacking trident.

However such is the tactical flexibility of the multi-talented City squad that approach could yet alter - we will know for sure come kick-off!

Golden vision

Games between Newcastle and City have, more often than not, proved highly entertaining affairs with Pep Guardiola’s side having won our last five meetings against the Magpies.

And City also boast a remarkable and hugely impressive record in front of goal against the men in black and white.
City have scored in each of their last 27 Premier League clashes.

That incredible record is the longest scoring streak one team has had against another in the history of the competition.

Match stats

Head-to-head

  • Newcastle’s only win in the past 29 Premier League meetings was by 2-1 at home in January 2019.
  • Manchester City have won the last five meetings, scoring at least four goals in each of the past three. Only two teams have netted four goals or more in four consecutive Premier League games against an opponent - Liverpool v West Ham in 2017 and 2018 and Tottenham v Stoke in 2016 and 2017.
  • City have scored in each of their last 27 Premier League clashes - the longest scoring streak one team has had against another in the history of the competition.

Manchester City

  • Should City avoid defeat, it would be the sixth unbeaten run of 20 or more Premier League away games by a club. Manchester United hold the record of 29, set between 2020 and 2021.
  • City can win each of our opening three matches of a Premier League season for the first time since 2016-17.
  • Kevin De Bruyne has scored nine goals and set up another eight in his past 12 league appearances.
  • Phil Foden could become the youngest player to make 100 top-flight league appearances under Pep Guardiola, aged 22 years and 85 days, and the second youngest player to do so for City after Micah Richards.
  • Bernardo Silva needs two goals to reach 50 for the Club.

Newcastle United

  • Newcastle and City are the only sides yet to concede a goal in the Premier League in 2022-23. The last time the Magpies kept a clean sheet in their first three games of a top-flight season was in 1902-03.
  • They can win their opening two home matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2000-01 under Bobby Robson.
  • Newcastle have remained unbeaten in their opening two matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2011 - their eventual 11-game unbeaten run was ended by City.
  • Nick Pope could become the first Newcastle goalkeeper to keep clean sheets in each of his first three games for the club.