CHAMPIONS Manchester City play their first game since being crowned English Premier League champions again on Friday night when they visit Newcastle United.
It's a game that now means little when bitter rivals Manchester United gifting them the title after losing to Leicester City at home in midweek, although the destination of the flag was realistically sorted many months previously.
And for the hosts, it's a free hit too after any remote prospects of relegation were ended last week.
City now have three league games to go before they face Chelsea in the Champions League Final that, for now, will be played at Istanbul and it will be interesting to see how much Pep Guardiola decides to wrap his key men up in cotton wool now with nothing to play for.
And with Steve Bruce's side, it's also difficult to predict which one will turn up – the one that laboured so badly at home to Arsenal and played as if their season had finished or the swashbuckling side who swept into a four-goal lead at Leicester City in their last game.
How the bookies view it
Title or no title, City are huge favourites here at 2/7 with Tonybet. The hosts can be backed at 11/1 with bet365. The draw is 5/1 with Betway.
Recent head to heads
City cruised to a 2-0 win against Newcastle on Boxing Day at the Etihad thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres. However, Newcastle are unbeaten in their last two league games with City at St James' Park – they drew 2-2 last season and won 2-1 the previous term.
Players to watch
Newcastle have suffered a huge blow after Callum Wilson – who netted a double against Leicester – will miss the last two games with a hamstring injury. That forces us to look elsewhere and Joe Willock, who also scored, has now netted in each of his last four matches and is worth a go at 9/1 with Paddy Power to score anytime.
For City, Raheem Sterling finally broke a seven-game goal drought for his club in his last game against Chelsea and is 7/5 with Unibet to net in Tyneside.
Anything else catch the eye?
With the pressure off, there could easily be goals in Newcastle. City to win and over 3.5 goals at 15/8 with Paddy Power has a real chance if the handbrakes are taken off.
In the corners market, there could be a decent opportunity for the hosts. Bet365 are offering evens on the hosts getting over 2.5 corners. They've managed that in their last six games against the likes of Liverpool, Leicester City, West ham and even when they were comprehensively outplayed at Arsenal. It's surely not a big ask to get that amount of corners against a partying City team!
This English Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City will be played on May 14, 2021 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Newcastle United vs Manchester City prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
