Man City (A) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

After our five-star display over Aston Villa - where we battered Unai Emery's men 5-1 - we face perhaps the toughest game in world football a week later.

It doesn't get much harder than Man City away, but we go into the game with no fear and full of confidence after the perfect start to the new Premier League season.

If we can play our own game - something Eddie Howe has urged his players to do - press, blow them away with our intensity, defend well and show that clinical edge at the other end (something we didn't do in last season's 2-0 defeat), there's no reason why we can't come away from the Etihad with a result.

The hosts only arrived back from a Super Cup trip to Athens on Thursday afternoon and will be without three key first-team players in Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones. This time last year we raced into a 3-1 lead over Guardiola's side at St James' Park, so the treble-winners will know what we're capable of.

It's just refreshing to go into such a tough game with hope not fear and genuine excitement that we have the potential to upset the best team on the planet. It'll be a risk-reward strategy if we attack them, but I'd take a brave and ambitious approach every day of the week over 11 men behind the ball and hoping for a 0-0.

Team news

Eddie Howe revealed in his Friday morning press conference that there's no change on fitness front, with those who missed last weekend's opener still out of this one.

Joe Willock (hamstring), Emil Krafth (ACL) and Javier Manquillo (groin) remain out, while the game will come too soon for Lewis Hall; who is on Tyneside but yet to sign over the dotted line ahead of his loan-to-buy move from Chelsea.

For the hosts, Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (hamstring) and Bernardo Silva (fever) have already been ruled out, while centre-back Ruben Dias is also a doubt.

Predicted line ups

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

This may be our toughest test of the season, but I don't think we'll have an easer predicted line-up. After last weekend's 5-1 win over Aston Villa and stunning display at St James' Park, I can't see Howe making any changes.

There'll be plenty of dilemmas to come, with Wilson, Barnes, Longstaff, Willock (currently injured) Anderson, Hall and Livramento all likely to be contention in weeks to come, but I'm pretty certain we'll see the 11 who looked full of energy, confidence and quality seven days ago.

Predicted Man City XI: Ederson - Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake - Rodri Kovacic - Foden, Alvarez, Grealish - Haaland.

One to watch: Erling Haaland – He may be without the creative spark of Kevin De Bruyne, who has assisted so many of his goals at City, but the giant Norwegian is a freak of nature and goalscoring machine. One lapse either on the counter or in and around the box and he's likely to punish you.

Prediction

For the first time, we have genuine belief heading to the Etihad. Stopping Haaland is a challenge few can overcome and it's important we aren't left too exposed if and when they bypass our press, but I really do feel we have the pace, intensity and quality to cause them issues.

I'll lead with my heart and belief in Eddie Howe's Mags and predict a scoring draw, with goals from Isak and Gordon.

Prediction: Man City 2-2 Newcastle

HWTL!