Manchester City winger Kevin De Bruyne. (Photo : Reuters)
Erstwhile league leader Manchester City (5-2-0, 15 points) wants to put a halt to its two-game slide in the 2015-2016 Premier League season as it hosts winless club Newcastle United (0-4-3, 3 points) at the Etihad Stadium on October 3, Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini's squad suffered their second straight loss of the season in the hands of an inspired Tottenham Hotspur XI, 1-4, last Saturday at the White Hart Lane, via Bleacher Report.
After new acquisition Kevin De Bruyne scored the first goal of the match at the 25th-minute to give City a 1-0 lead, four Spurs had winners in the next 54 minutes en route to the blowout victory.
It was De Bruyne third goal in as many games as he tries to lead the Citizens to the win despite the continuing lackluster performance of fellow newcomer Raheem Sterling, who has only one goal in four appearances so far for Pellegrini.
Meanwhile, Steve McClaren failed to snag his first win as new Magpies manager after defending champs Chelsea held them to a 2-2 draw at the St. James' Park last Saturday, as per ESPN.
Newcastle zoomed off to a 2-0 lead as winger Georginio Wijnaldum scored the team's second goal at the hour mark.
However, Jose Mourinho's men fought back and unleashed two goals in the last eleven minutes to even the count.
Pellegrini intends for his team to return to its winning ways against the lowly Magpies and continue to deny McClaren that elusive first win.
Prediction: Manchester City over Newcastle United, 3-1.
Betting odds: Manchester City (-425), Newcastle United (+1000), draw (+550), via Bovada
Manchester City starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Hart; Demichelis, Sagna, Kolarov, Otamendi; Fernandinho, Fernando; De Bruyne, Sterling, Touré; Agüero
Newcastle United starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Krul; Janmaat, Mbabu, Coloccini, Mbemba; Sissoko, Colback; Anita, Wijnaldum, Mitrovic; Pérez
