Manchester City

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Chris: Probably the best performance of the season, with the big difference being the return of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. They add so much at both ends of the pitch, and both should go to the World Cup. Notable mentions as well for Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw and Bruno Guimares, who was immense. Keep going.

Phil: Great to see Newcastle back to their best on both defensive and attacking fronts. The difference was having Hall and Livramento back in the side. Amazing what a difference having two England international full-backs playing can do!

Gary: It's no coincidence that having our two starting full-backs back in the side that we looked a different team. You can tell how well Tino did with the fact that Jeremy Doku was taken off early. But what a performance from all the players. We now have to get results on the road.

Mac: True grit shown. Credit due to Eddie Howe and the boys. Silenced the doubters!

Man City fans

Stella: City's naivety was on show here - lots of possession without finishing things off during the game. Perhaps a more physical midfield as starters could have led to a different outcome. Rayan Cherki, who will become a star, was full of flicks and tricks which were risky for the volatile atmosphere at St James's Park. He, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva looked lightweight. That said, some of the refereeing decisions were absurd: the foul on Foden should have seen a red card for Fabian Schar, with at least another penalty for obvious handball. Plus, there was a clear offside in the build up to their winning goal. I felt that we deserved a point from the game but we hopefully move on and learn from this experience

Usama: Extremely frustrating as to how we didn't win that. Big chances missed from Erling Haaland and Foden, and we were made to pay the price. The subs from Pep Guardiola were not good at all. Savinho wasted a good chance, and Bobb offered nothing. Omnar Marmoush needed to come on earlier to make an impact. We have a long way to go in terms of reaching that consistency, as displayed in our title-winning seasons.

Harry: Credit to Newcastle for keeping us out. We missed some clearcut chances, and no one was really at the races. I hate to be a parrot because every team has been wronged in some way, but the officiating almost directly handed this game to Newcastle.

Kevin: City were mugged defensively, cheated by VAR and the referee in not being awarded a penalty. But Newcastle played well and a draw would have been a fair result.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Rob Green join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Newcastle 2-1 Manchester City

• Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest

• Fulham 1-0 Sunderland

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Newcastle is a top side, top players, top manager so unfortunately tonight we could not make the momentum that we had. It was entertaining game, we both had chances and then there was a momentum shift and ultimately we couldn't win.

On the first half being goalless: "Both keepers were good and after we missed chances. It was an entertaining game with many chances. We were closer in the beginning."

On the second Newcastle goal: "It happened in the Bournemouth game and it happened today again. It is what it is after VAR decided. They know perfectly."

On the frustration of dropping points: "Always but it is a football game and the opponent is playing and they played good too."

On speaking to the referee at full time: "No questions, everything is fine."

Defender Ruben Dias speaking to Sky Sports: "It was difficult in all ways for both teams. It was a very intense game and chances both sides. We had loads of chances and didn't score more and we have to do better there. They scored theirs and we have to do better.

"Everyone knows how strong they are at home. First game after internationals is a tricky one and we fought as well as we could.

"It's always a period of adaptation. We simply have to do better."

On the VAR calls: "I feel like the one in the first half with Phil [Foden] they said it was pretty clear but I don't even go there. Of all the decisions, only the second goal we need to make it make sense. Where's the sense in their player pushing our keeper out of the goal. What are we allowing and for how long? It's more like sometimes you allow it and sometimes you don't so what can you do? In the second goal Gigi (Donnarumma) is being pushed outside his area and there is no consequence.

"I have had a chance to see, I didn't even see it out of the pitch. I had the chance to see the review and I think it is [Harvey] Barnes is pushing him away from the goal. We are so picky with certain contacts but then ones like this with the keeper, then they allow it. If this is the rule then fine.

"But then let us do the same. Back in the day it was a foul and now apparently it is allowed. It is one of them that when you lose people say you are trying to find excuses but today Newcastle were better. They deserved the win because of that. They were able to finish more chances than us. There needs to be a rule."

On the end of the game: "We felt like we could finally push again.They are a strong side and then immediately after we scored, they went ahead again. By the end it was difficult to find spaces. We were fighting until the end but we keep on pushing."

Did you know?

• Manchester City have suffered as many as four defeats in their opening 12 games of a Premier League season for the first time since 2013-14 (also 4). Indeed, it's the most defeats a Pep Guardiola side has ever suffered in their opening 12 league matches of a season in the Spaniard's managerial career.

• City have lost three of their last five away games in the Premier League (W1 D1), as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W6 D4 L3). The Citizens have suffered back-to-back away league defeats for the first time since December 2024 (3 in a row).

Listen to Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This was a missed opportunity for Manchester City and a disappointing day for the usually prolific Erling Haaland.

The loss means City are now third in the table. They failed to close the gap on leaders Arsenal, who have a north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Haaland came into the game after helping Norway reach next year's World Cup during the international break, when he took his tally to 32 goals in only 20 games for club and country this season.

The 25-year-old remains stuck on 99 Premier League goals after some uncharacteristic misses, especially in the first half when Pope came rushing out of his goal and Haaland decided to take a shot instead of going round the keeper.

Another first-time effort from close range was straight at Nick Pope, who plucked out a weak header in the second half as Haaland drew a blank for only the third time this season after failing to score against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

For Harvey Barnes' winner, the VAR Craig Pawson took almost five minutes to rubber-stamp the goal.

Replays of the incident did not initially display lines drawn for a possible offside, although a screenshot later appeared to show Bruno Guimaraes was onside.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

• Have your say on Newcastle's performance

• What did you make of Man City's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Tino Livramento returns from injury as Newcastle United make three changes for the visit of Manchester City.

Livramento replaces Kieran Trippier in the side after recovering from a knee lay-off, while Lewis Hall comes in for the suspended Dan Burn.

Centre-back Fabian Schar has also been handed his first league start since September in place of Sven Botman.

Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, Ruddy, Botman, A Murphy, Ramsey, Willock, Miley, Elanga, Neave

Manchester City have named an unchanged side following their 3-0 win against Liverpool before the international break.

Manchester City starting line-up: Donnarumma, O'Reilly, Dias, Gvardiol, Nunes, Silva, Gonzalez, Foden, Cherki, Haaland, Doku

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Savio, Khusanov, Bobb

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Burnley v Chelsea (12:30)

• Bournemouth v West Ham

• Brighton v Brentford

• Fulham v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Crystal Palace

• Newcastle v Manchester City (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Nottingham Forest" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man City", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Based on both teams' form, I should really go for a Manchester City win here, but sometimes gut instinct takes over and this is one of those occasions.

Newcastle have struggled on the road and been flat and dismal in the away matches when they have dropped points, but things are different at home and they are capable of anything at St James' Park.

City beat a very average Liverpool side at Etihad Stadium before the international break and how they get on here will probably be a better gauge of where they are really at.

I know City fans have seen their team put together long winning runs to deliver so many league titles in recent seasons and maybe they think this is the start of something similar, but I don't see it that way.

Pep Guardiola's side still have a lot to work on, and I think they will be held to a draw here. Newcastle have lacked a bit of a spark so far this season but they will be well up for this one.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City continue their title challenge against a Newcastle United side aiming to bounce back from consecutive defeats.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at St James' Park.

Haaland approaches record-breaking century

Manchester City resume Premier League proceedings following the international break second in the table and on a run of four successive wins in all competitions – their longest such sequence of the current campaign to date.

Central to City's success so far this season has been the superlative form of striker Erling Haaland, who has scored 30 goals in his past 18 games for club and country.

The Norway international continues to close on yet another Premier League milestone in record time.

He needs just one goal to reach his century in the Premier League and should he do so against Newcastle this weekend, the feat will have been achieved in 15 fewer appearances than any other player in the competition's history.

Haaland has scored 14 Premier League goals in 11 matches in 2025-26 and his ruthless finishing has been in full effect, with eight coming via a first-time finish.

While Haaland's rich vein of form has been familiar throughout his City career, Pep Guardiola's side are currently bucking the widespread trend of scoring an increased amount of goals from set-pieces.

Nico Gonzalez's goal from a corner in the 3-0 Premier League win against Liverpool ahead of the international break was City's first from a set-piece this season, the joint lowest tally of any side, with the Blues instead scoring an unrivalled 22 times from open play.

Whether it comes from a set-piece or not, any kind of City goal has often felt inevitable in this fixture.

They have scored in each of their past 33 Premier League games against Newcastle – a competition record by one side against the same opponent.

Should Guardiola's men score – and win – at St James' Park on Saturday, they can move to within one point of leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday.

Newcastle's bogey team

Newcastle come into this contest attempting to recover from back-to-back defeats for the first time this season in a fixture that has proved particularly problematic for Eddie Howe.

Newcastle's head coach has failed to win any of his 18 career Premier League meetings with City (drawn two, lost 16) – the longest such sequence of any Premier League manager against the same opponent without ever winning.

If the Magpies are to help end Howe's personal purgatory against his bogey team, they must manage matches better once ahead.

Newcastle have now lost three league games this season after scoring first, including their two most recent defeats.

They had previously lost three games after opening the scoring across the entirety of the past two seasons.

Newcastle's home form

However, the Magpies are on a strong run of home form, winning their past five matches at St James' Park in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and keeping four clean sheets.

Summer signing Nick Woltemade has scored in three of his four home league appearances so far and continues to grow into Premier League football, with all three of his open-play goals coming from first-time shots.

The 23-year-old also scored three goals for Germany during the international window in wins against Luxembourg and Slovakia.

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Why Manchester City players like Phil Foden have their hands and wrists bandaged has been the subject of questions sent in via our 'Ask about Man City' form, so BBC Sport found out more about the trend...

The answer is simple. Footballers mainly tape their wrists to protect them from injury.

Sports tape, which is wrapped around the wrist and sometimes fingers, provides support and stability to the wrist joints during a match - meaning that if a player has been tackled, faced a collision or a fall, the tape will form protection to their wrist.

Ben Warburton, a physiotherapist who has worked with Cardiff City, Wales' national rugby union team and Scarlets rugby union team, says players like Phil Foden wear the tape for different injury-related reasons.

He said the first is for "prophylactic measures", such as when footballers fall to the floor helping to "reduce the risk of a wrist injury".

It can also reduce extension at the wrist joint.

"Taping can give reassurance after an injury," explains Warburton. "This restriction in movement can give massive confidence to a player, making them feel they can play aggressively - and should they fall, their wrist is slightly protected."

Warburton also says that wearing wrist tape can just be for show, or for tactical reasons - especially goalkeepers who may have notes on their tape, such as penalty shootout instructions.

Wearing tape could also be part of a footballer's superstitious beliefs, believing they will have a better performance or it will bring them luck if they apply it.

It can also become part of a footballer's identity on the pitch if they become known for their wrist tape.

There are numerous videos on TikTok of people showing how to tape your wrists like Foden, Jamie Vardy and Vinicius Jr.

Foden did not wear the tape until fracturing his hand in January 2024, but the Manchester City playmaker has continued to wear the bandage ever since.

Ultimately, wearing wrist tape is down to each individual player and their preferences.

Read more about it here

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Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of Financial Fair Play (FFP) based on squad costs.

The clubs met in London on Friday to vote on three possible methods of replacing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) got 14 votes in favour and six against, which is the minimum number that is required to exact a rule change.

Overall squad costs from next season will have to be limited to 85% of a club's revenue, although teams competing in Europe will have to adhere to Uefa's maximum of 70%.

Squad costs comprise player and manager wages, transfer fees and agents' fees.

Rules around sustainability, which set out a club's financial spending plans over the medium and long term, were passed unanimously.

Read more about the news and what it means here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced the start and end dates for the 2026-27 season.

The first round of fixtures will take place across the weekend of 22 August 2026 - a week later than previous seasons.

The later start allows rest time for players - 89 clear days from the end of this season, and 33 days from the 2026 World Cup final.

The Premier League said the delay was a "priority" for player welfare in an "increasingly congested global football calendar".

The final matches of the season will be played on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with all fixtures kicking off simultaneously as usual.

The season will end a week before the 2027 Champions League final, which will be on Saturday, 5 June.

There will be 33 weekend and five midweek fixtures - the same as the current season.

For the festive period, the Premier League have said no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours.

It has not been confirmed if there will be any fixtures on 24 December 2026.

However, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the Premier League has said there will be more matches scheduled than this season, when there is only one.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at St James' Park (kick-off 17.30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Guardiola confirmed "everybody is fit except [Mateo] Kovacic and Rodri", adding: "Rodri is making good steps. It's almost three weeks since he made the last little step back. He knows that we have to take real time to recover fine, recover well, mentally and especially physically from the problems he had."

• The City boss feels a "strong" team like Arsenal "will not drop many points" and if they "get a lot of distance it will be difficult" to catch them in the title race.

• He continued: "We are in November, and in November in this league nothing is final. What happens in February or March - be careful. Now international break is done we will see each other every few days till March. Now the real season starts now. We have to be there in March."

• On striker Erling Haaland, after he helped Norway to World Cup Qualification and could break another Premier League record this weekend: "It's amazing. he's breaking all the records, personal and Premier League and for Norway. Many of the squad for Norway weren't even born the last time they were in the World Cup. As a football player, world class player, he deserves to play a World Cup and live the experience. I'm so happy for him."

• Guardiola insisted opponents Newcastle are a "top, top team" and they "are ready" to face them. He also praised the Magpies' in-form captain Bruno Guimaraes as a "special player" that he has "always been a big fan of".

• On Nico O'Reilly, who made his senior England debut during the international break: "I'm happy for him. Hopefully can continue and stay humble. When you reach the highest level with your country and national team, hopefully he can be stable. All the people who work with him since a little kid and his development here to help him get there, it is a big, big compliment."

• He also praised Bernardo Silva for being "one of the best" players he has coached in his career, stating: "He can do everything. He is not the most prolific with goals or assists but he gives us and gives himself something that is not in the stats. He gives you a lot of things that is incredibly valuable for the team to win games."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Hear more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

It's a rare early start at Manchester City today for a 09:00 GMT news conference on this bitterly cold Friday morning.

That may be because of travel arrangements for Saturday's trip to Newcastle as Premier League teams make their return to action following the international break.

City comprehensively defeated champions Liverpool in their previous game and statistics show Pep Guardiola's side have ran more covered more ground this season than any other top-flight side.

Do the running stats show they are fully re-energised? Have they put the disappointment of last season behind them?

Let's wait to see what Guardiola says.

Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all retain an interest in Bournemouth and Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo, 25. (Talksport), external

Wolves have identified Manchester City's 23-year-old English goalkeeper James Trafford as a prime January target. (Teamtalk), external

But Manchester City could offer Trafford to Newcastle in a player-plus-cash deal to secure the services of 23-year-old England full-back Tino Livramento. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

One of potentially the biggest moments in English football is coming on Friday, but precious few people understand how important it could be or even know about it.

The Premier League is considering 'anchoring' wages, which would cap the amount any club could spend on their squad at five times the smallest central Premier League broadcasting and prize money payout.

It is a complex argument. The league and some clubs are considering it because they want to ensure wage inflation does not continue to rise endangering their long-term financial security. From the other side - the players and their union, the PFA - this unnaturally limits the amount they can earn in what has until now been a free and open market.

Any changes to that position foisted upon the players without their prior consultation and agreement will not go down well. Remember, the players are the people that the paying public, the TV companies and the advertisers want to see, not a bunch of chairmen, executives and directors arguing over accounts, dividends and profit margins.

The game has increased the number of games played per season without consulting those who are physically doing it. No studies on how that will affect their health in the short and long term were considered, and so the PFA in England looks like it is finally ready to take a strong stand for its members.

Strike ballots are not unknown, I should know, as chairman of the PFA my name was on the bottom of every ballot paper when we last considered strike action over changes in working conditions. The modern owners may have forgotten, but we had 99% backing from our members.

Owners may think of footballers as ultra wealthy, mercenary, thickos who can easily be controlled - well they thought that last time and they lost.

It is time for serious and meaningful negotiation between equals and not a master and serf attitude from one side towards the other.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

One of the biggest stories of the Premier League season so far is the decline of goals scored in open play and how teams have been scoring more from set-pieces instead.

When we compare how goals have been scored to the first 11 games last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open play and 26 more from team set-pieces and penalties, giving us 13 fewer overall.

If we look at the bigger picture and the number of shots teams are taking, there have been an incredible 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last time out.

So which teams are most responsible for this change in how goals are scored this season?

The above graph compares how teams have gone up or down in numbers of set-piece and goals from open play compared with the same stage last season.

In terms of goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decline, scoring just four in 11 games and that is 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Outside of Wolves, the Premier League's decline in open play goals is very much a London thing, with five of the capital's seven sides scoring at least five goals fewer from open play than last season.

In fairness, that is largely down to them scoring lots of goals at the start of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open play this campaign.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 goals scored this season coming in open play.

When it comes to goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have seen the biggest increase, with both sides replacing the five fewer goals that they have scored in open play with the same number from dead-ball situation.

Manchester United have scored twice as many goals from set-pieces as they did in the 11 games before Ruben Amorim took charge last season.

On the flipside, Manchester City do not seem to have got the memo about scoring more from set-pieces because they've scored three fewer than last season, as have Nottingham Forest, although that might be down to the change in style they have tried to implement.

Read more about this season's scoring trends here

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs set to be affected by players jetting off to host country Morocco.

The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.

There has been no official announcement about which date clubs will have to release their players by - and it could vary depending on agreements.

Players could miss up to six, or in some cases seven, Premier League matches - plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - if they reach the final.

The group stages end on 31 December, so quickly eliminated players may only miss half that amount.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds do not have any players due to play in the 2025 Afcon - with Sunderland and Wolves losing the most players.

• Aston Villa - 1

• Bournemouth - 1

• Brentford - 2

• Brighton - 1

• Burnley - 3

• Crystal Palace - 1 to 4

• Everton - 2 to 3

• Fulham - 3

• Liverpool - 1

• Manchester City - 2

• Manchester United - 3

• Newcastle United - 0 to 1

• Nottingham Forest - 1 to 4

• Sunderland - 7

• Tottenham - 1 to 2

• West Ham United - 2

• Wolves - 5

Read the full article here to know which players will feature at Afcon

Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, 30, is one of three Manchester City players weighing up their future before the January transfer window. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Which player is flying?: Aside from the obvious in a certain Norwegian, Jeremy Doku is currently a man performing at the very highest level and making the difference in matches. He has found his range in goalscoring opportunities, creating, assisting and scoring for himself - a stark contrast to his first few seasons.

Which player is floundering?: Savinho. After a summer marred by transfer uncertainty and injury, the Brazilian is looking so far off the pace and raising the question among supporters as to whether Manchester City really should have gone ahead and cashed in on Tottenham's big-money proposals. There is immense pressure on the winger and we are only a few weeks since he signed a long-term contract.

Tactically I think we... look strong. There is real attacking urgency and threat about this latest iteration of Pep Guardiola's side and a new-found control and physicality that was certainly lost last campaign. There is an ability to sit in and defend, counter attack with pace and vibrance, and create against a deep block.

I want my manager to give me more... of Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly as our full-back pairing. Stability is crucial and in a problem position such as full-back, City may have found their much-needed answer, despite recruiting Rayan Ait-Nouri and the failure to sign a natural right-sided option.

Our fans seem obsessed with... Rayan Cherki, and rightly so! The Frenchman is a rare sight in the modern game; a player fearless to try the impossible and a constant desire to entertain. He may not be a replacement for Kevin de Bruyne - and perhaps no footballer could ever hit the heights of the legendary attacking midfielder in terms of assist output - but Cherki could offer traits that the Belgian maybe could not.

But they should be thinking about... how early on we are in the Cherki era. It is almost as if this was a player crying out to see his natural abilities nurtured by a top-level coach and footballing genius, now happening with Guardiola. This is just the start of a potential rise to superstardom.

My expectations for the season were... about challenging more strongly and getting a feeling of dominance back. But after the resurgence we've had since the back-to-back defeats in August, a serious push for the Premier League title is certainly a possibility.

Score for the season so far: 7.5/10, only because of the inconsistencies at the start of the season which naturally brought some nervousness.

One sentence on how you're feeling right now: While I am not necessarily confident of success in May and June next year, and the direction of the major pieces of silverware, I am excited about watching this team play. The fresh energy has been brought about by the new faces and the resurgence of Phil Foden and Doku, with all that feeding into a new form of Erling Haaland - something we thought was not even possible!

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external