EPL Preview: Newcastle United vs. Sunderland

Newcastle United have been boosted by the news that third-choice goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has been passed fit for the North-East derby with Sunderland.

Alnwick, who only made his debut against Chelsea two weeks ago, will continue between the sticks with Tim Krul and Rob Elliot still nursing injuries.

Defender Steven Taylor is also expected to be fit, with Newcastle in need of a response after suffering heavy defeats to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during the past seven days.

However, manager Alan Pardew will be aware that victory at St James' Park will cement their place in the top half of the standings over the Christmas period.

Sunderland make the short trip to Tyneside having recorded draws in five of their last six games but head coach Gus Poyet will be encouraged by the performances of his team.

During that period, the Black Cats have held both Chelsea and Liverpool, with their only defeat coming against a Manchester City outfit inspired by Sergio Aguero.

Poyet is expected to include Steven Fletcher, with Jozy Altidore potentially dropping out of the side, while Billy Jones and Emanuele Giaccherini are in contention for a starting role.

Newcastle United:

Form in Premier League: WWLDWL

Possible starting lineup: Alnwick; Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett; Tiote, Colback; Gouffran, Perez, Ameobi; Cisse

Sunderland:
Recent form: DDDLDD

Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon, Vergini, Reveillere, O'Shea, Brown, Cattermole, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher

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EPL Result: Newcastle United 0 - 2 Manchester City

Manchester City have kicked off their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United courtesy of goals in either half from David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

Edin Dzeko nearly put the visitors ahead with less than three minutes on the clock, but Tim Krul denied the Bosnian striker after he was picked out with a ball over the top.

Neither side could create any real openings, although Newcastle were beginning to force their opponents into making a few errors as the half progressed at St James' Park.

Seven minutes before the interval City did strike against the run of play, though, and it was David Silva who made the breakthrough with a drilled finish past Krul following a flicked pass from Dzeko into his path.

There was an early scare for the Citizens in the second half as they struggled to deal with a corner whipped into the box, but the danger was soon cleared with their lead still intact.

Stevan Jovetic came close to adding a second for his side on 55 minutes when he struck the ball from 25-yards out, only to see his attempt fly wide of the target.

Another chance soon followed for City, this time for Dzeko who headed over from close range, while Yaya Toure's free kick sailed inches over the bar.

The missed opportunities almost proved costly when Ayoze Perez broke free from the opposition defence before getting a shot away at goal which was deflected narrowly wide.

Substitute Sergio Aguero made sure of the points in added time, however, with his finish from close range when he pounced on a rebound ahead of Fabricio Coloccini.

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EPL Preview: Newcastle United vs. Manchester City

Newcastle United will line up against Premier League champions Manchester City without five of their first-team squad.

New signing Siem de Jong will be absent, as will Cheick Tiote and Davide Santon, while long-term injury victims Papiss Cisse and Ryan Taylor are still a significant amount of time away from a return to action.

However, Magpies boss Alan Pardew is expected to hand debuts to Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, Remy Cabella and Emmanuel Riviere.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini faces similar selection issues as he prepares his team for the visit to St James' Park.

Eight players were missing as City slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, and while a number of the absentees will return, Alvaro Negredo, Eliaquim Mangala, and potentially Sergio Aguero, will miss out.

Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko, who have been in fine form during pre-season, are expected to lead the line in the North-East.

Recent form
Newcastle United: LWDW

Manchester City: WDDL

Possible starting lineups

Newcastle United: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara; Colback, Anita, Sissoko, Cabella; Riviere, Ferreyra

Manchester City: Hart; Clichy, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Fernando, Yaya Toure, Silva, Nasri; Jovetic, Dzeko

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RESULT: Juan Mata's Brace Help Man United crush Newcastle United

Juan Mata scored a brace as Manchester United climbed up to sixth in the Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Newcastle United.

Early on, Marouane Fellaini had a goal disallowed for handball before Papiss Cisse twice went close for Newcastle, with Anders Lindegaard keeping out the Senegalese frontman.

Mata put United in front seven minutes before half time when his 20-yard free kick curled up over the wall and into the top corner.

The Red Devils were almost two up by half time when Javier Hernandez linked up with Shinji Kagawa before drilling low against the foot of the post.

Five minutes after the break it was two when Mata coolly slotted home Hernandez's cutback.

Hernandez got himself on the scoresheet to make it three midway through the second half by tucking home a Kagawa centre.

Lindegaard made another save to keep out Cisse before Januzaj rounded off a comfortable afternoon by playing a one-two with Mata before slotting past Rob Elliot at his near post.

Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk

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EPL PREVIEW: Newcastle United vs. Manchester United

Newcastle United have the opportunity to record a first league double over Manchester United since 1931 when the two teams meet at St James' Park on Saturday.

The Magpies won 1-0 at Old Trafford in December in the first of consecutive home defeats for David Moyes and even darker times have followed for the United boss.

However, a spirited draw against European kings Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday proved that the Red Devils can still mix it with the best on their day.

United fans will tell you that their day has not come around very often this season and that is why they are only eight points above Newcastle, compared to 41 as they were at the same stage last term.

Moyes can put to bed any fears that the Tyneside outfit could yet leapfrog his side in the table with victory this weekend, although some players may be rested ahead of the huge trip to Germany on Wednesday.

Juan Mata, who scored his first United goal in the 4-1 success over Aston Villa, is ineligible for continental competition so should be recalled, and Patrice Evra is available after serving a European suspension.

Ryan Giggs is likely to be saved for Munich and so too could Danny Welbeck and Antonio Valencia, whose pace will give the English champions a counter-attacking threat at the Allianz Arena.

Injuries to Rafael, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Alexander Buttner may force Moyes to use Michael Carrick as a makeshift centre-back should he choose to give Rio Ferdinand a break against Newcastle.

With Robin van Persie sidelined, Wayne Rooney will continue as the main striker. Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Adnan Januzaj could all be restored in a much-changed midfield.

Newcastle will be without Loic Remy and Mathieu Debuchy for another week, while Moussa Sissoko and Tim Krul could miss a further fortnight due to hamstring and knee problems respectively.

Second-choice goalkeeper Rob Elliot put in a fine display last weekend despite conceding four in the heavy defeat to Southampton, which may prompt manager Alan Pardew into defensive changes.

The 52-year-old, who is serving game five of his seven-match touchline ban, could drop Massadio Haidara and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and recall Davide Santon and Paul Dummett at full-back.

Yoan Gouffran is likely to be asked to drop back into a midfield three to compensate for Sissoko's absence, with Hatem Ben Arfa playing in behind Papiss Cisse and the still-goalless Luuk de Jong.

Recent form

Newcastle: LLWLWW

Man United: DWLWWL

Possible starting lineups

Newcastle: Elliot; Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Tiote, Anita, Gouffran; Ben Arfa; De Jong, Cisse

United: De Gea; Jones, Vidic, Carrick, Evra; Young, Cleverley, Fletcher, Januzaj; Mata; Rooney

Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk

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