Media: predictions and a word from the opposition

City welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad, kick-off at 5.30pm, for the second meeting between the two clubs in under a month.

Firstly, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has made his predictions for the weekend ahead, and has his eye on a win for the Blues.

The broadcaster predicts a 3-0 result for Pep’s side on Saturday, and thinks the clash is the perfect chance to “bounce back” after last weekend’s result against Liverpool.

“If Liverpool showed other teams the way to beat Manchester City last weekend with their high-energy and attack-minded tactics, I cannot see Rafa Benitez following that template,” Lawrenson wrote in his column on BBC Sport.

“I don’t think he will be studying the DVD of that match too much. He probably didn’t even watch it.

“Newcastle are far more likely to attempt the kind of defensive shut-out they tried when City beat them 1-0 at St James’ Park at the turn of the year. I don’t see it working this time.

“City will put last week’s defeat down to the fact that Liverpool absolutely swarmed all over them but I doubt their manager Pep Guardiola is going to beat himself up about it too much, and this game is perfect for them to bounce back.”

Meanwhile, a recent article the Manchester Evening News suggests that the clash could be the perfect opportunity for Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva to “audition” up front.

“After seeing team after team stick 11 men behind the ball and frustrate Manchester City, throwing on an extra striker against David Moyes’s side broke the stifle,” Simon Bajkowski wrote in the MEN.

“Newcastle made West Ham and Southampton look like a Kevin Keegan side as Rafa Benitez set his men up like you see in those adverts where a school of kids take on a few pros. The adults still end up scoring but the sheer weight of numbers in the penalty box makes it interesting for a while.

“Vincent Kompany’s latest injury in the opening minutes of the St James’s Park encounter allowed Guardiola, having seen the extremity of Newcastle’s defence, to throw Jesus on to join Aguero.

“Two strikers will be expected on Saturday - except the squad doesn’t contain them, at least naturals in that position.

“When Guardiola offered Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva as options up front, City were still expected to sign Alexis Sanchez.

“But in the new reality, one of those two now have an opportunity to add to their repertoire.

“There are at least six games to be played before Jesus returns, and a good audition can increase their chance of game time.”

Finally a word for opposition boss, Rafa Benitez.

“I said after (the first) game, ‘I am a manager, and I have to try and do the best for my team.’ We had some chances at the end, and we could have drawn the game,” the Magpies boss said, as quoted on Newcastle United’s official website.

“We will try to do well, and we will try to score goals because it is the only way to win games.

“It is not a cup competition where one goal can sometimes count double for you. In this case, we have to score more goals than them if we want to win, and if not, we have to score at least as many as them to draw.

“We didn’t have any pressure before, and we don’t have any pressure when we play against them now.

“They are so good, there is never a good time to play them.

“They know they are a good team. They are top of the table, they are winning almost every game – until the last one – so, we don’t have any pressure. We have to do our job and try to get points if we can.

“Before (the first) game, we were analysing a lot of games Manchester City were playing – different systems, different approaches, and still they are winning.

“So, you know, they say, ‘This team did really well.’ But, they lost 2-1, 4-1, or 4-0. Everyone will have an opinion and we will try to bring the best out of our players for this game. We have confidence we can do it, even though we know it is a very difficult task.”

That’s all for your match day media round-up, we will be back tomorrow with the latest City headlines from the back pages.