Newcastle United vs Manchester City Preview: Team News, Tactical Overview & Prediction

The League Cup semi-final first leg takes place at St James’ Park on Tuesday as holders Newcastle United play host to eight-time winners Manchester City.

Match Details

• Fixture: Newcastle United vs Manchester City

• Competition: League Cup

• Date: Tuesday 13 January 2026

• Kick-off: 8.00pm GMT

• Venue: St James’ Park

• TV coverage: Live on Sky & ITV

• Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Newcastle United Team News & Predicted Line-Up

Eddie Howe faces a defensive selection crisis. Tino Livramento is set for a scan after sustaining a hamstring injury on Saturday, joining Fabian Schär (ankle), Dan Burn (rib), Emil Krafth (knee), and Jamaal Lascelles (muscle) on the sidelines. Anthony Elanga is also a doubt with a knock and Will Osula is still unavailable.

After two energy sapping wins against Leeds United and the penalty shoot after extra time in the FA Cup against Bournemouth, Eddie Howe will be taking advice from his medical and performance team before deciding on his starting eleven.

Newcastle United Predicted Line Up: Pope - Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall - Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton - Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Speaking ahead of the game, Eddie Howe addressed injuries, form and transfer speculation in his pre-match press conference.

Manchester City: Team News & Predicted Line Up

Pep Guardiola has a significant injury list including Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture), Ruben Dias (hamstring), John Stones (muscle), and Mateo Kovacic (ankle). Savinho and Oscar Bobb are also unavailable due to hamstring and knock issues.

However, the new FA Cup rules mean that recent signing Antoine Semenyo is available for selection even though he has already played for Bournemouth in the competition.

Manchester City Predicted Line Up: Trafford - Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, O’Reilly - Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, Reijnders, Semenyo - Haaland

Form & Tactical Overview

Newcastle are on a run of four consecutive wins since the Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United and are unbeaten in their last 13 home games.

The Magpies also boast a 100% progression record from League Cup semi-finals, the joint best in the competition’s history.

Eddie Howe's team have also beaten Manchester City in their last two League Cup encounters, including a 1-0 win at St James' Park in September 2023. Newcastle also took three points in a 2-1 win in the Premier League in November 2025.

Manchester City are undefeated in their last 12 matches across all competitions, winning nine of those outings.

However, they have faltered recently in the league, falling six points behind leaders Arsenal after three consecutive draws. That draw sequence came to an end with a 10-1 win against Exeter in the FA Cup which included a goal from Semenyo on his debut.

Guardiola also has a perfect record in this competition’s semi-finals, progressing on all six occasions he has reached this stage with Manchester City.

Tactical Overview: With the first leg at home Newcastle will be looking to take at least a two goal advantage into the game at the Etihad.

This will be a tough challenge against a Manchester City side that Eddie Howe has described as the most difficult to beat over two legs.

However, Guardiola has injuries across the defence and midfield positions and Eddie Howe will seek to take advantage of a less than full strength City team.

There are no such problems in attack where Erling Haaland and Semenyo will be a major threat to a Newcastle defence that has leaked six goals in the last two games. All of those goals were down to defensive errors - a repeat of those mistakes could see Manchester City taking a decisive lead into the second leg.

In their usual style, Manchester City will look to dominate possession and control the tempo of the game. Newcastle need to disrupt City's game plan from the kick off, press high, and test goalkeeper Trafford with shots and crosses early in the game.

The result could rest on which of the two in-form goalscorers - Erling Haaland and Harvey Barnes - come out on top in a game where chances could be at a premium.

Match Prediction

Newcastle ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought by defeating Liverpool 2–1 in the Carabou Cup Final at Wembley last March, and are aiming to become the first side since Manchester City in 2021 to successfully retain the crown.

Having already beaten City in the Premier League this season, and with confidence high after four successive wins, Newcastle will respect but not fear Guardiola's side.

Manchester City, even with injury absentees, will still field a formidable team who won't be coming to St James' Park to defend and take a draw back into the second leg.

That means the crowd can expect an open attacking game where both defences could be exposed on the break. The team that defends best and makes the fewest errors will likely be the one that prevails.

I'm going for a repeat of the Premier League result in November.

Prediction: Newcastle United 2–1 Manchester City

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