Premier League: Clash of Clubs With New Status

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

It was the summer of 2008 when the history of Manchester City Football Club changed forever.

That was when the club was purchased by Sheikh Mansour and the rest is very much history.

Until then, City had gone more than 30 years without a major trophy, sat in the shadow of their city rivals and, at times were a parody of themselves.

That summer changed everything and, although it took four years before their maiden Premier League title was won, the momentum was fast paced and, arguably inevitable.

On Sunday, the champions travel to Tyneside to face Newcastle United who, themselves, were taken over by billionaires last autumn.

Before meetings like this, the comparisons are inevitable about just how far Newcastle could go under their new ownership model.

Talking Points

Can Newcastle United delight their fans by defeating the defending Premier League champions? — Newcastle United fans during a Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Falmer Stadium

Now let’s not pretend that both ownership models don’t have their critics, for there is no disguising that.

Yet the fact is the majority of fans of either club will not care if there is a chance of success.

And the route City have taken is one that the new owners of the “Toon Army” must have looked at as an example to follow.

Newcastle have also wasted no time in putting their new found wealth to good use, even if manager Eddie Howe – who signed a new long-term contract at St James’ Park a fortnight ago – has warned supporters that financial fair play regulations will prevent him from spending heavily in the transfer market for some years to come.

It is true that, despite the vast wealth of their new Saudi Arabian owners, Newcastle have still to develop the commercial revenue streams which would enable them to invest significantly in players while remaining within the rules.

But City did it quickly enough and were winning trophies within three years of their takeover, so can lightning strike twice?

This weekend, the Geordies should welcome back Ryan Fraser to the squad after he recovered from the back spasm that caused him to miss out against Brighton last weekend.

Matt Targett could return from a dead leg, although Dan Burn is ready to deputise at left-back again.

Newcastle and City are the only sides yet to concede a goal after the first two games of the new season and the champions’ latest recruit, full-back Sergio Gomez, has been named in their matchday squad.

Manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kalvin Phillips and Cole Palmer are also back after minor injuries.

City’s first set of Premier League 2022 highlights arrived with a double from Erling Haaland and should they make it three wins out of three – something they have not managed at the start of a campaign since 2016 – it will be a mighty impressive beginning.

Likewise, Newcastle would make people sit up and take notice if they can win their opening two home matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2000, achieved under the late great Sir Bobby Robson.

The last time the Magpies kept a clean sheet in their first three games of a top-flight season was in 1902.

If they manage another one on Sunday, it will give them real belief they are heading on an upward trajectory.

What will give on Tyneside remains to be seen.

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History

Overall, Newcastle have beaten City 72 times, just two behind their 74 victories, while there have been a further 40 draws.

City have won the last six meetings in a row, including a league double last season.

The game on Tyneside saw City run out 4-0 winners just before Christmas when Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez, and Raheem Sterling found the net on an afternoon when the champions turned on the style.

It was similar in Manchester in May when Sterling bagged a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, and Phil Foden in a 5-0 romp which proved crucial as they retained the title in the most dramatic fashion just a fortnight later.

Newcastle have only beaten City once on Tyneside since 2005. That was in January 2019 when second half goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie (penalty) sealed a 2-1 victory.