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2026-02-04 - Manchester City vs Newcastle United

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Manchester City v Newcastle United
Football: English League Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Wednesday 4th February 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Manchester City

There is still time for Manchester City to turn the screw on title rivals Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola has to have travelled back home on Sunday evening feeling like his squad had dropped two priceless points. They dominated the first half in North London at Tottenham Hotspur, but a controversial route back into the game was allowed to stand for the hosts and Guardiola was clearly very angry with that decision that turned the tide against his team.

They are going to be back in Premier League action this weekend and Manchester City may expect to be as many as 9 points behind Arsenal when they do kick off on Sunday afternoon at Anfield. That is for another day and this week the focus is on completing the League Cup Semi Final win over Newcastle United having won 0-2 at St James' Park in the First Leg last month.

Manchester City are struggling for any kind of consistency and have won 4 of the last 10 games played in all competitions since the turn of the calendar year. They are at home on Wednesday where Manchester City are unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions and have won 3 in a row.

Jeremy Doku is expected to miss out, while both Ruben Dias and Rayan Cherki could be doubtful to start.

Newcastle United

After scoring first at Anfield on Saturday, Newcastle United were not able to get into half time with the lead and that saw them fall away in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool. This is a result that feels like another body blow in the ambitions to get back into the Champions League with a top five finish, while Newcastle United's defence of the League Cup trophy won last season looks to be coming to an end.

The Magpies were far from outplayed in the League Cup Semi Final First Leg, but the late goal conceded to Manchester City means there is a lot of work to do to turn around a two goal deficit. The first gaol is going to be very important for Eddie Howe's team if they are going to put some pressure on the hosts and have the chance to reach the League Cup Final for the third time in four seasons.

Newcastle United scored a couple of late goals to beat Leeds United in the Premier League last month, but have now won 1 of the last 7 games in all competitions in normal time. The defeat at Anfield on Saturday continues what has been poor away form for much of the season as far as Newcastle United are concerned and they have won 1 of the last 7 on their travels in all competitions.

Sven Botman, Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimaraes are all doubts. Emil Krafth could return to the squad at the weekend, but this game looks to have come too early for him, while Joelinton is hoping to be back around the time of the Champions League Play Off Round.

Head to Head

These two teams have won one match apiece in a couple of games played at St James' Park this season.

Manchester City have won 11 in a row at home against The Magpies.

Prediction

There has been a vulnerability about Manchester City over the last six weeks that has really slowed the push towards the top of the Premier League table.

Pep Guardiola has been frustrated by what he feels to be some very poor officiating decisions that have worked against his team and the Cup competitions may have become the best route towards success for Manchester City over the coming months.

A 0-2 win at St James' Park places Manchester City in complete command of this League Cup Semi Final and they should have the power to back that up by completing passage into the Final to be played next month.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle United may not have much to lose after the Home Leg, but there is no doubt that the squad continues to be impacted by a huge amount of injuries.

It leaves them looking a little short of the quality that Manchester City will be able to bring into this match and the likelihood is that this going to be another tough away day for The Magpies.

They did earn a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain last week in the Champions League, but Newcastle United were well beaten at Anfield on Saturday.

At some stage they are going to have to take risks and that is where Manchester City could really hurt them.

11 straight home wins against Newcastle United will give Manchester City plenty of confidence and belief too and they can make bounce back from the very disappointing 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur by winning this one in a high-scoring game.