Image source, BBC Sport

Since Manchester City's winning run ended with December's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace - they had to settle for 18 consecutive Premier League victories in the end - the absolutely nailed on future champions have won one (3-1 at home to Watford) and lost one (last week's sensational game at Anfield).

So there you have it. They are rocking. All over the place.

And Manchester United have narrowed the gap down to a trifling nine points by beating Burnley...

Image source, BBC Sport

There is a first Premier League start for 21-year-old Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko - he replaces the injured Fabian Delph in one of two changes for Manchester City. The other sees David Silva return to the XI - he missed last weekend's defeat by Liverpool with a stomach problem - as Ilkay Gundogan drops to the bench.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane.

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Adarabioyo, Diaz.

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle make four changes to the side that started last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Swansea.

DeAndre Yedlin, Matt Ritchie, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle all drop to the bench. In come Manquillo, Jacob Murphy, Isaac Hayden and Joselu.

Newcastle XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Diame, Hayden, Murphy, Joselu, Atsu.

Subs: Elliot, Gayle, Ritchie, Perez, Yedlin, Merino, Haidara.

The teams are in...

Image source, Getty Images

So what does happen the week after Manchester City lose in the Premier League?

Last Sunday's 4-3 defeat at Liverpool was the first suffered by Pep Guardiola's side in this term's top flight. Their first in 23 games.

Today, they face a Newcastle team who have only lost once in their last five league games - against City in the reverse fixture on 27 December.

And here's the most misleading stat of all - the one that City's rivals will be clinging to most dearly - City have only won once in their last three league games...

See? The title race is wide open...