MAN CITY’S 22ND TRIP TO WEMBLEY UNDER GUARDIOLA – NO WONDER FANS CALL IT 'ETIHAD SOUTH'
Newcastle, it is fair to say, do not like their visits to the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City, by contrast, cannot get enough of Wembley.
For the 16th season in a row, City are heading to the national stadium – or the “Etihad South” as their fans jokingly call it – after seeing off Newcastle to set up a tasty Carabao Cup final against Premier League leaders Arsenal on March 22.
It will be the 22nd time City have been to Wembley under Pep Guardiola and the 32nd occasion since 2011, when Yaya Touré’s goal in the FA Cup semi-final victory against Manchester United unlocked the trophy floodgates for a club who had for so long languished in the shadow of their neighbours.
For Newcastle, there will be no defence of the trophy they so memorably won last season – their first domestic one for 70 years.
Eddie Howe has never won at the Etihad as Newcastle manager and for the Tyneside club it now reads just one victory in 23 trips to east Manchester.
Their frustrations were compounded by an injury to Anthony Gordon that forced his substitution late in the first half and will also concern England manager Thomas Tuchel. “It’s a hamstring issue, it was enough for him to come off, so that’s a big worry,” Howe said.
In truth, the scoreline was rather misleading. Guardiola was indebted to an impressive showing from goalkeeper James Trafford for frustrating Newcastle in a first half when two goals from Omar Marmoush and one from Tijjani Reijnders gave City a commanding 3-0 lead.
And then the City manager watched his side have another of those lacklustre second halves when they make life needlessly difficult for themselves and a young, makeshift defence found itself being pulled apart too easily. With better finishing, Newcastle might have taken something from this game.
Anthony Elanga, one of three half-time substitutes from Howe, did score a fine solo goal but he missed a far easier chance after that, when fellow substitute Harvey Barnes put a cross on a plate. Another substitute, Yoane Wissa, similarly, squandered a golden chance straight after the restart when clean through.
It has been the way of things since the turn of the year for City, who led at half-time against Chelsea, Brighton and Tottenham only to throw away points. They were blown away by Manchester United in the second period at Old Trafford. Even the wins against Wolves and Galatasaray featured unconvincing second halves, much like this one.
With Josko Gvardiol and John Stones injured, Rúben Dias only just back on the bench and Marc Guéhi ineligible, Guardiola was missing his key defenders. They will need to be a lot better at the back than this if they are to add more silverware to the cabinet this season
Erling Haaland, who started among the substitutes, had two efforts brilliantly saved by Aaron Ramsdale late on. Guardiola warned that his players would be facing an Arsenal side in the final who are “the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world.”
“I think it will be an incredible experience for all of us to try to hopefully arrive in March, with everybody fit, everybody ready, and we can make a good game against them,” he added.
Four days after watching Hugo Ekitike score twice in Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat of his side, Howe was forced to watch another transfer target that got away provide an unwelcome reminder of what he is missing.
Trafford has not had many chances at City this season but he made the most of his ninth appearance of the campaign. Howe thought he was signing Trafford last summer before City entered the fray to steal the England goalkeeper from under Newcastle’s noses and he was a thorn in their side here.
Trafford made big saves from first Joe Willock and then Gordon to preserve City’s early 1-0 lead and then kept out a Kieran Trippier free-kick before kick-starting his side’s second goal with a quick, precise throw out to Nico O’Reilly.
By the time Marmoush headed the ball into the net after Trippier failed to clear Antoine Semenyo’s cross, a beaming Guardiola was pointing both hands at his goalkeeper in salute at his sharpness. “James was unbelievable, especially in the first half,” the City manager said. “England have an incredible keeper and I’m happy he now plays a final. He had a top, top game.”
Three minutes later, it got even worse for Newcastle when Reijnders’s superb turn caught Sven Botman and Jacob Ramsey cold and left both trailing in the City midfielder’s wake. Semenyo then picked up possession inside the penalty area and tried to cut inside Dan Burn, whose interception served only to tee up Reijnders to coolly slot home.
Trafford frustrated Newcastle again in stoppage time when he pushed away a header from Botman that was heading for the top corner. Howe’s woes were compounded when Gordon limped off in the 44th minute.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Newcastle needed an awful lot to go right to stand any chance of making the final and Howe was as frustrated by the individual mistakes as his side’s wastefulness. “We were craving that first goal and didn’t get it and when City get it the task becomes even more difficult,” he said. “I don’t think we played well in that first half hour, losing too many duels, but if you add up the opportunities in both ties there’s a lot of missed opportunities that cost us.”
City were clinical in a way Newcastle simply were not, the visiting team’s problems underlined straight from the restart when a mistake from Abdukodir Khusanov set Wissa racing through on goal, only for the substitute to shank a shot horribly wide.
That miss set the tone for Newcastle in a second half in which they had no trouble getting in behind City – just a lot of problems actually putting the ball in the net.
Elanga’s goal was superb – darting in between Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri before bobbing and weaving in front of O’Reilly and creating the space to bend a fine finish into the corner.
Yet easier chances went begging, notably when Sandro Tonali released Barnes in behind. He squared for Elanga but the former Manchester United forward steered his shot well wide.
Marmoush was a livewire and got the ball rolling in rather fortunate circumstances when Burn made a sliding tackle, only for the ball to bounce back off Marmoush and loop over Ramsdale. Newcastle had no such luck in front of goal. As for City, Wembley has almost become a second home.
Man City demand rule change to allow Guehi to play final
Manchester City will ask the EFL to allow Marc Guéhi to play in the League Cup final, as Pep Guardiola lashed out at the eligibility rules as “illogical”.
Guéhi was cup-tied for the second leg of the semi-final against Newcastle following his signing from Crystal Palace after the first leg. Competition rules mean he will also miss the Wembley final. But fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo will be eligible for the clash against Arsenal.
Both players have featured in the competition for their former clubs, but Semenyo was allowed to play as he was signed before the first leg of semi-final.
City will now ask the EFL, which runs the competition, for dispensation to play Guéhi on March 22, but Guardiola is not hopeful of getting the rule thrown out.
“Now it is the final, why should he not play? We pay his salary, we hire him, why should he not play?” Guardiola said. “They make the rules when the transfer window is. The window is closed, then they should be able to play for their club the next day. It’s logic. Hopefully he can play in the final.
“We will play a lot [of finals]. He is so young. He came to a team that will play in the next years a lot of finals. No doubt about that.
“I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final in March, when I have been here for a long time. The rules to buy a player depends on Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League who say, OK the transfer window is open, when you buy a player you have to play, no? It’s logic. Of course we are going to try to ask [for] him to play. Pure logic.”
Guardiola was also in deep conversation with Sandro Tonali after the final whistle, with the Newcastle player among the midfielders City are monitoring in the transfer market.
“We have an incredible friend in common from Brescia, Edoardo Piovani. I knew his father a long time ago and we talk about his time at Milan and how he is happy at Newcastle. He is a really top player, top, top, top player,” Guardiola said.
Howe on the tie overall
In both games if you look back. We are frustrated we only scored one goal in two games. We don’t feel we should have lost the first leg 2-0 on the balance of opportunities created. It could have been different but we accept the reality. The last thing you want to do is have to chase a game. We were going for the match, we were trying to attack.
Guardiola wants Guehi made available for final
Hopefully we can arrive with players fit and hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc [Guehi] can play in the final because it’s difficult to understand. The club made a big investment to take one player.
He belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play the final.
Hopefully we make a letter and hopefully the Carabao Cup or whatever can understand that when you buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule, I don’t understand why.
Hopefully they can change it.
Guardiola on returning to Wembley
March we go to Wembley again. We will travel to London again, they [Arsenal] will wait for us there. They never travel to the north [for finals] but I am really happy to be back. Five ties in 10 years is a big milestone.
It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the Carabao Cup. When you win something, it helps to win more. It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world.
Reijnders on the incentive of beating Arsenal
Yes, of course. It will be a tough match, but we will be very hungry and we want to win this title. They play amazing and they are a really balanced team. We have to analyse and see where we can gain our strength.
A familiar tale for Newcastle
Marmoush on City’s professional job
We showed a very good mentality. We were together as a team, from the first minute we were very focused on the job. We showed our mentality and passion and are very happy to reach the final.
It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. We are here to win trophies. We give our best every day to reach these finals and win silverware. Hopefully we can do it for all the new players and also the players that were here. They showed us that every medal and every silverware is important.
FT: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Even though the result was never in doubt, that was an entertaining watch. Newcastle threw everything they had at retrieving the deficit, but their boldness was punished by City with three first-half goals when there was green grass everywhere to attack. In truth, like Chelsea, Newcastle lost the tie at home. Man City will play Arsenal at Wembley in the final.
90 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Just the two minutes of added time to play. Rodri has been booked for pulling back Elanga.
89 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Not for the first time tonight, Khusanov shows his pace to recover and deal with the run of Wissa. A snap shot from Tonali is straight at Trafford, before there are gasps from the crowd at a trick from Cherki on halfway.
86 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Haaland with another strike at goal, this time from with his weaker right foot after he was teed up by Cherki and Ramsdale made another sharp save. Cherki to Haaland is such a potent combination.
83 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Brilliant pass from Cherki, untrackable movement from Haaland and an outstanding save from Ramsdale to tip the ball around the post. City go close to what would have been a high-quality fourth goal.
81 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Another Newcastle chance as a free-kick pumped into the area bounces through the box and falls for Elanga at the back post, but no black and white shirt was there for the tap-in.
80 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Marmoush has pressed his case for more Premier League minutes with a lively performance, but his left-footed shot flies over the bar as he goes for the hat-trick. Cherki wanted him to pass it.
78 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Nico Gonzalez has been booked for pulling back Sandro Tonali. Yellow cards were wiped before this round, so no risk of any City player missing the final.
75 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Marmoush has the ball in the net but the whistle had already blow for a foul on Jacob Ramsey. Newcastle are still sticking to their task when it comes to pressing City high up the pitch. Howe has made another change: Osula on for Trippier.
70 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Harvey Barnes may have been marginally offside, but regardless that is a horrible miss from Elanga. All alone on the penalty spot as the ball was squared, but he opened up his right foot but skewed the ball wide.
Here come Rodri, Haaland and Cherki. They replace O’Reilly, Semenyo and Foden.
68 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
Harvey Barnes tucks the ball into the bottom corner, but Wissa was well offside in the build up.
Guardiola is about to introduce Haaland, Rodri and Cherki. Just to make sure of the result.
This is another City second-half drop-off. These have been the second-half results of matches since the first leg of this semi-final:
- Man City 0 Man Utd 2
- Man City 1 Bodo/Glimt 1
- Man City 0 Wolves 0
- Man City 0 Galatasaray 0
- Man City 0 Spurs 2
65 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (Agg: 5-1)
“We’re gonna win 6-5!” sing the Newcastle fans now. There is certainly time for them to score another one or two and add some respectability to the scoreline.
GOOOAAALL! Elanga opens Newcastle’s account
A fine individual goal from the winger, dribbling into the penalty area from the right, and bending a shot in off the post with his left foot. Elanga needs more moments like that after a tough start to life at Newcastle.
60 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
Newcastle’s away fans are still singing “Eddie Howe’s black and white army!” so they seem to have the backing of the manager. Not shortage of effort from the players, but the air has gone out of the balloon in this game. Thiaw shoots wide with an ambitious volley.
56 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
Wissa goes down looking for a penalty after Alleyne stands on the ball in his own penalty area, but the referee is unmoved. Then City go down the other end and almost score their fourth of the night, with Reijnders and Marmoush the combination yet again. This time, Reijnders did not hit the target. No penalty for Newcastle after a VAR check.
Interesting line-up now from Newcastle. Jacob Murphy has come on and can find himself at left wing-back in a five man defence when his team are defending. He moves into midfield when they have the ball and it looks more like four at the back. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa give Eddie Howe’s team a slightly more attacking look but City are slowing it down to walking pace at times. There is no need to commit players forward.
53 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
While City have been in total control of the tie this evening, Newcastle have had their chances. In fact, if they had taken their clear-cut chances it would be 4-3 on the evening. James Trafford has saved two one-on-ones and also denied Sven Botman. Yoane Wissa got it completed wrong when he was put clean through after coming off the bench. His shank went in the opposite direction to which he was aiming.
50 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
Newcastle are still trying to press City as high as possible, no sign of damage limitation. Max Alleyne shows his pace to track the dribble of Elanga, and block the cross to concede a corner. Taken short, then Tonali floats a cross straight into the gloves of Trafford.
47 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
A moment of sloppiness from Khusanov at the start of the second half allows Wissa a clear sight of goal, but his left-footed shot was miscued horribly wide. Newcastle have had their chances.
We are back under way
The City fans are not in a hurry to return to their seats.
Three half-time changes from Howe
Elanga, Wissa and Jacob Murphy are the players coming on for Woltemade, Willock and Hall.
For City, Max Alleyne has replaced Nathan Ake.
Get another row ready...
Another bitter pill for Newcastle
They were close to signing James Trafford last summer, and the City goalkeeper has been excellent again. Maybe he was not ready to carry City through Premier League and Champions League campaigns as the No 1 this season, but the 23-year-old is a big talent.
HT: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
I think we can say without fear of contradiction that Man City will play Arsenal in the League Cup final at Wembley. Eddie Howe picked a team with five defenders, but employed a front-footed, pressing approach which yielded some chances but ultimately left Newcastle threadbare at the back. Newcastle could have scored a couple, but City could have five. It was a worth a try I suppose, but backfired. The loss of Gordon for a few weeks perhaps more painful than losing the tie for Newcastle.
45 minutes +1: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
We are in the first of four minutes of added on time at the end of the first half.
James Trafford has made a fourth save of the night, pushing Botman’s header away from danger.
44 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
Harvey Barnes has replaced the injured Anthony Gordon. I did wonder if Howe would risk Barnes in this situation. He is going to need him for the next few weeks given that Gordon injury, you would think.
These matches must be a nightmare for Thomas Tuchel to watch. The England manager saw Jude Bellingham go down with an injury at the weekend, ruling him out for a month. Now Anthony Gordon has limped off here and has gone straight down the tunnel. It’s World Cup year; there has to be a few injury scares along the way.
42 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
Things going from bad to worse for Newcastle: Anthony Gordon has sat down on the turf off the ball, and looks to have told his England mate Phil Foden that “it’s hamstring”. The last thing Eddie Howe needed.
39 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
City’s quality on the ball is the primary reason for the scoreline, but the full-court press is only really a viable tactic at this level with mobile and athletic centre-backs. Schar, Botman and Burn’s size 13s just cannot move quickly enough. You want those three heading battleships out of the water, not defending most of Greater Manchester at their back.
36 minutes: Man City 3 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 5-0)
City have been awful in second halves recently but even they won’t be relinquishing this lead. It means Guardiola will have a remarkable record of reaching Wembley in every season in English football. Okay, some of those have been FA Cup semi-finals and he has lost the FA Cup final in the last two campaigns but it is still a huge achievement.
GOOOOALL! Reijnders scores as Newcastle fall apart
Chelsea were criticised for not going for it at Arsenal, and Newcastle have tried to press City all over the pitch but the links in the chain have broken down. Botman follows Reijnders all the way into the City half but the defender, who is not quickest, is spun. Semenyo had the initial chance in the box, but the ball broke for Reijnders to pass into the corner. This is getting messy.
32 minutes: Man City 2 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 4-0)
There was a VAR check on Marmoush’s second goal, but Semenyo was deemed onside and the goal stands.
GOOOALL! Marmoush doubles City’s lead on the night
From that free-kick, Trippier tried his luck but Trafford saved. Before you knew it, City had played their way through the Newcastle press by finding Reijnders again and they were away. Semenyo delivered a low cross from the left, Trippier tried to clear on the stretch but sliced the ball into the air, and when it dropped Marmoush was there to head home from a yard or two.
27 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
City keeping the ball for another sustained spell, but Nunes got a little cocky in his own half and Lewis Hall swarmed all over him, pinching the ball. Yellow card for Nunes, and Newcastle have a free-kick. Very central, almost 30 yards out.
23 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Why is Antoine Semenyo playing but Marc Guéhi is cup-tied? Both have played for other teams in the competition but the answer is Semenyo can play because he was signed before the first leg of the semi-final. Guéhi arrived between the two legs so cannot play tonight or in the final.
22 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Newcastle have struggled to defend City’s flowing moves but they had missed two good chances themselves. This time Gordon was in with only Trafford to beat but the goalkeeper rushed off his line to make a smart save. Like Willock earlier, Gordon needed to loft the shot over the diving goalkeeper.
20 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Reijnders’ runs from midfield in the left channel are causing problems, running off Jacob Ramsey whenever Botman steps in to follow Foden. A Marmoush shot from range deflects behind for a corner, but Ramsdale palms the delivery away. Newcastle then get themselves in a right pickle from a throw-in, but Semenyo dragged a shot wide.
18 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
City continue to make inroads, with an Ait-Nouri shot deflected over after a gallop forward from left-back. City keep the ball alive from the corner, and then Newcastle struggle to clear their lines. Schar scuffs the ball straight to Foden whose shot was blocked, before a Semenyo ball flashed across the six-yard box. It was begging for a tap-in.
15 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Phil Foden penalised for catching Lewis Hall on the follow through, but it looked like Foden got a clean touch to the ball. It was more than that, Foden directed the ball to a team-mate a few yards before catching the player. Boggles the mind that is now deemed a foul.
Just before that, Newcastle’s man-to-man pressing was in evidence; Sven Botman followed Foden all the way into the City half, leaving two centre-backs behind him.
12 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Some of City’s attacking play has been very slick so far, with Reijnders going close after a move started by Marmoush. Reijnders’ powerful strike across goal was tipped wide by Ramsdale but the referee did not spot the touch.
9 minutes: Man City 1 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 3-0)
Almost immediately from kick-off, Newcastle found themselves in acres of space in the City half, and Trafford had to smother at the feet of Willock to preserve City’s three-goal advantage in the tie. Could Willock have lifted the chance over the goalkeeper?
GOOOALL! Marmoush surely finishes the tie
Lovely interplay between Marmoush and Reijnders to create the chance, but there was plenty of good fortunate in the finish. It was a great give and go between the forward and the midfield, the return pass flicked the outside of Reijnders’ right foot. Dan Burn was playing him onside, and he rushed across to atone, but his sliding challenge rebounded off Marmoush and over Ramsdale.
That should be game over then.
Really hard luck on Dan Burn, who executed an excellent tackle to stop Marmoush there. 99 times out of a 100 that flies off for a goalkick rather than a goal. But Newcastle were also set-up really defensively. Three centre-back and a flat-back five when they are chasing the tie.
6 minutes: Man City 0 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 2-0)
Newcastle finally complete some passes, but they are across their defence for the most part. The away side are finding it hard to get out and spring counter-attacks at the moment.
4 minutes: Man City 0 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 2-0)
Sharp start from City who are playing the game in Newcastle’s half and keeping the ball. Marmoush and Semenyo are almost playing like split strikers, with Foden and Reijnders behind them in a narrow attacking structure. O’Reilly and Nico Gonzalez paired in the deeper midfield area. Newcastle yet to touch the ball.
2 minutes: Man City 0 Newcastle 0 (Agg: 2-0)
Within the first minute of the game, Newcastle try to press City high at the edge of their own box, but City play through the pressure to release Marmoush in a one-on-one down the left. He tries to cut inside and shoot but his effort is blocked. If Newcastle keep up that approach, this could be an exciting first half.
There are noticeable patches of empty seats here. Plenty of empties in the top tier and patches elsewhere. City fans have had a lot to attend recently - extra Champions League games and a home FA Cup game too. Still, it is the semi-final of a major competition.
KICK OFF!
The second leg of this semi-final is under way.
The players are on their way out
Newcastle’s players were in the tunnel a good few minutes before the City team, with captain Kieran Trippier looking back a few times and asking the referee if City would care to hurry up. Gamesmanship.
Howe on his change of system
There are pros and cons to every system. This one gives us something when it comes to defending the width of the pitch but of course there’s a weakness going the other way. The system doesn’t define how you play, principles of play do.
Guardiola on how to approach playing with the lead
Defend when they are better, but the best way to defend a lead like this is to score more goals.
Changes in goal for both teams
Not uncommon this in the League Cup, but James Trafford replaces Gianluigi Donnarumma for City while Aaron Ramsdale replaces Nick Pope for Newcastle. Fair to say the battle for a Premier League starting spot is more competitive between the Newcastle goalkeepers, but Trafford had a very solid game at St James’ Park in the first leg.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match thoughts
Big task for us today. The start of the game is going to be massive. We have to bring good energy, good body language and positive intentions. Try to impose ourselves on the game. If we are at our best we can cause them problems.
A reminder of what Guardiola had to say an extaordinary press conference
Killing thousands of innocent people, it hurts me. Never, ever in the history of humanity… have we had the info in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now: genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world – in Sudan, everywhere.
When people are dying, you have to help them. Protecting human life is the only thing we have but now it is not happening. With the technologies and advances that we have... humanity is better than ever in terms of possibilities, we can reach the moon, we can do everything. But still right now we kill each other. For what?
When I see the images, I am sorry it hurts. It hurts me, that is why if I can help by speaking up to be a better society, I will try and will be there. All the time. It is for my kids, my families, for you.
Assessing the team news
It would be probably be a bit unfair on a fledgling coach to coin the phrase “doing a Rosenior” but Eddie Howe has followed suit by electing to start with five defenders in a cup tie his team is chasing. It could be a similar system to the one he deployed at PSG last week. A blow for Newcastle that Bruno has not made it. Wissa, Barnes, Elanga and Murphy are attacking subs.
Pep Guardiola will be delighted to have Ruben Dias back on the bench. Rodri and Erling Haaland have been rested, perhaps with a view to Sunday’s game at Liverpool, so Foden and Marmoush get the chance to lead the attack.
Newcastle team news: Howe goes with back five
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall; Willock, Tonali, Ramsey, Gordon; Woltemade
Nick Woltemade is recalled by Newcastle after being on the bench against Liverpool at the weekend. Sven Botman is also in the starting XI after being rested for a knock at the weekend.
Man City team news: Rodri and Haaland rested, Dias back on bench
Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake (c), Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Reijnders, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Marmoush
Subs: Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Cherki, Rodri, Nypan, McAidoo, Alleyne, Lewis
Erling Haaland is on the bench for Manchester City. That is the big call from Pep Guardiola for this semi-final second leg, with his team effectively needing to defend rather than attack. He also dropped him against Wolves recently. James Trafford is in goal for Guardiola, with the England goalkeeper set for jeers from the Newcastle fans after almost joining them in the summer. Nathan Ake is skipper.
James Ducker: Guardiola is speaking like a man who knows he is leaving City
The Catalan has never been afraid to speak up when he has something to say. But there has been something about his behaviour in recent weeks that points to a man wrestling with a multitude of emotions, unable to contain himself, and does little to dispel the feeling – rightly or wrongly – that he could walk away at the end of this season.
Newcastle need the first goal and a prayer to turn tie around
A six-point deficit to Arsenal in the Premier League is not quite a state of affairs that calls for Manchester City to throw everything at the cups, but we might be approaching that scenario.
City are certainly strong favourites to reach the League Cup final, taking a 2-0 lead into tonight’s home second leg against holders Newcastle United.
Pep Guardiola’s team will play Arsenal at Wembley on March 22 if they progress, around a month before the teams play at the Etihad in the league. There is also a chance that they could play in the Champions League quarter-finals.
This weekend looks like another significant one in the title race, with Arsenal hosting Sunderland and City travelling to Anfield where they have a grim record. Perhaps the danger to City tonight is Guardiola rotating his team with an eye on that game and being caught out.
Newcastle certainly have the speed and attacking menace to trouble an unstable City defence, but they will have to improve on a dreadful away record. Across the league and the Champions League this season, Newcastle have won just three of 16 matches on the road. They need to win by two goals just to send the tie to extra time.
Eddie Howe lined up with a roving front three of Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga against Liverpool at the weekend, and against a City team who like to play the offside trap, prioritising pace could be wise. Alternatively, he could take the view that Yoanne Wissa and Nick Woltemade are fresh as they go in search of goals.
Newcastle hope to have Bruno Guimaraes back in their midfield, but they remain without Tino Livramento and Joelinton.
Will Guardiola take this opportunity to rest Erling Haaland now Omar Marmoush is available again? Haaland has scored just twice in 10 appearances since the turn of the year.
Full team news on the way shortly.
2026-02-04T23:00:50Z