Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Newcastle United will fall to a 2-0 defeat when they come up against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
The BBC pundit claimed that with Pep Guardiola’s side chasing Liverpool in the Premier League title race, he expects the away side to go all out to get the three points at St James’ Park.
Lawrenson admitted that he has been impressed with Steve Bruce and his Magpies’ side, even in their recent 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Monday evening.
“Manchester City are chasing now,” he wrote in his BBC column.
“Newcastle have done fine under Steve Bruce, including the defeat at Aston Villa, but Manchester City need the points for the title race and I expect them to go all out to get them.”
It was in the North East where Manchester City came unstuck last season, losing 2-1 thanks to goals from Matt Ritchie and Salomon Rondon.
OPINION
It is hard to go against anything but a Manchester City win when they travel to Newcastle. The Magpies’ front three are simply not causing any side enough trouble at this moment in time, and after the poor defensive efforts against Villa last time out, the away side will definitely smell blood in the final third. Guardiola will be drilling it into his side that they can’t afford to lose any game from between now and the end of the season, and that makes them a dangerous opponent. If there is one area they could take advantage, it is their defence. With the likes of Aymeric Laporte injured, the City backline are there for the taking, but that would mean that Newcastle’s attack will finally need to get their act together, and that is something that looks miles away at this moment in time for the likes of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton.
