Pep Guardiola has made seven changes to the side that started in the midweek victory over Arsenal, with Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva the only players to retain their place.
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Ake is recalled after missing the trip to North London due to being short of full fitness, with Ederson, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres also returning to the starting XI.
Aguero is on the bench for the third consecutive game as Guardiola continues to be patient with him despite the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who misses out with Kyle Walker after testing positive for COVID-19.
Teams
CITY: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Sterling, Torres.
SUBS: Steffen, Aguero, Zinchenko, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer.
NEWCASTLE: Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie, Murphy, Hayden, M. Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton.
SUBS: Lewis, Anderson, Manquillo, Wilson, Krafth, Carroll, Gayle, S. Longstaff, Gillespie.
WATCH: Guardiola challenges City to readjust and refresh
Formation and squad notes
Ten of the players that started against Southampton last weekend will kick-off against the Magpies, which suggests that City will be playing in a 4-3-3 formation.
Ake will de deployed at left-back as Cancelo switches to the more familiar right-back role in Walker’s absence, with De Bruyne the most advanced midfielder ahead of Rodrigo and Gundogan.
Torres should take responsibility for leading the line up front and whilst Bernardo will likely start on the right, he and Sterling could switch flanks throughout the game.
Facts and stats
- This is our 900th Premier League game.
- We have won our past 11 Premier League home games against Newcastle, a club record run against any top-flight opponent.
- We can match the Premier League record of scoring in 24 consecutive matches against one club. We have scored 61 goals in 23 games against the Magpies.
- Kevin De Bruyne has provided 15 Premier League assists in 2020 - at least three more than anyone else. He needs four more to break his personal record in a calendar year, which he set in 2017.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 15 Premier League goals against Newcastle, a competition record for the player of one team against the same opponent.
- Newcastle have won just once in seven away matches in all competitions and have lost three of their last four.
- The Magpies have lost 14 matches on Boxing Day and have conceded 42 goals in the process, both of which are Premier League records.
- Steve Bruce is winless in 12 career Premier League matches at. His only victory away in the league came with Huddersfield Town in the second tier in 1999.
