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Newcastle will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they go up against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Alan Pardew’s side were tipped as favourites for the drop before the start of the season but have made a mockery of those claims to work their way into the top four having yet to taste defeat after 11 games.
Manchester City meanwhile have lived up to expectations put upon them at the start of the season, with Roberto Mancini’s men sitting five points above cross city-rivals Manchester United having defeated the Red Devils 6-1 at Old Trafford.
Off the field speculation may have upset the apple cart in the international break, with wantaway striker Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and David Silva al finding their way into the transfer gossip columns while the Premier League took a back seat.
City will look to pick up where they left off before the international break and continue their own winning streak that has made them the favourites to win their first ever Premier League crown.
The home side have an excellent record against Newcastle in recent years, picking up seven wins and not tasting defeat in their last nine games.
David Silva has been perhaps the Premier League player of the season so far and the stats back that up, with the diminutive Spaniard creating 33 chances from open play, more than any other payer in the top tier of English football.
Newcastle will be reliant upon Demba Ba who has more than proved his worth since switching from West Ham to the Sports Direct Arena, quelling fears that Newcastle would be shy of goals after selling main striker Andy Carroll during last year’s January transfer window.
Ba has found the net eight times in his last six games, and has scored to hat-tricks to propel Newcastle into the Champions League places.
Pardew will be hoping his core of French players have what it takes to match the creative element of Manchester City, who can call upon Silva and Samir Nasri who share the record for most assists created so far this season.
Hatem Ben Arfa has proved himself a valuable addition to the North-East club having found his form this season after returning from a broken leg caused by a hard tackle from Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong.
Sergio Aguero provided some good news for Mancini having come through two games with Argentina after recovering from a groin strain.
Match Winner
While Manchester City understandably go into the game as favourites, Newcastle will hold hopes of sneaking an unlikely win after their impressive start to the season. Having come through one stern test already – fighting back twice from being a goal down against Tottenham earlier in the season, BetFred offer of 11.00 (10/1) on an away win seems tempting.
City are priced at 1/3 with Paddy Power to win while the draw is 5.50 (9/2) with Bet365.
First Goalscorer
Manchester City’s array of attacking talent dominates the first goalscorer market and with Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero all amongst the Premier League topscorers this season, competition is tight.
Bet365 are offering odds of 5.00 (4/1) on Balotelli opening the scoring which represents good value, while Aguro and Dzeko are both 4.50 (7/2) with BetFred.
Demba Ba represents Newcastle’s best chance of opening the scoring at 12.00 (11/1) with Bet365
Recommended Bets
First Goalscorer: Mario Baloteli, 5.00 (4/1) Bet365
Correct score: Manchester City 2 – 2 Newcastle, 29.00 (28/1) Ladbrokes
