Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that the reigning Premier League champions will have their mettle tested during a "battle" with Newcastle United on Saturday.
After winning each of their opening four top-flight matches, Man City played out a drab 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in their opening Champions League fixture, before rescuing a point in a pulsating 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend.
Man City's second-half dominance against a time-wasting 10-man Gunners outfit was eventually rewarded when John Stones came off the substitutes' bench to net a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser, preserving the Citizens' unbeaten start to the new season.
Pep Guardiola's men have since progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup, with a much-changed team beating Championship side Watford 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, and they will now shift their focus back to the Premier League with a trip to St James' Park on Saturday lunchtime.
City have a strong record against Newcastle as they have won 27, drawn five and lost just one of their last 33 top-flight meetings with the Magpies, most recently winning 3-2 in the North-East in January courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Oscar Bobb.
Newcastle will not be taken lightly by the Citizens this weekend, though, after Eddie Howe's side pushed them all the way in four encounters across three different competitions last season, including a 1-0 home victory for the Magpies in the EFL Cup third round this time last year.
McInerney: 'Newcastle's squad is full of quality'
Despite picking up 10 points from their opening four Premier League games, Newcastle's performances were far from convincing and they have since suffered their first defeat of the campaign - a 3-1 loss at Fulham with Howe admitting after the game that it was the "worst we have played" so far this term.
McInerney is now expecting a reaction from Newcastle against Man City and has talked up some of their star players - including Citizens-linked Bruno Guimaraes - who could pose a threat to Guardiola's side.
"I'm sort of disappointed that they've had that result against Fulham before they play us," McInerney told Sports Mole. "It's such a cliche, but it tends to be true that teams react (to a defeat) and there are loads of players that they've got [who have] quality.
"Anthony Gordon is brilliant, Harvey Barnes is a really good winger, [Alexander] Isak is one of the best strikers in the league, and at some point I reckon he'll be playing regular Champions League football - I know he's been there with Newcastle, but [playing in the competition regularly].
"Bruno [Guimaraes] - I would have loved him at Manchester City Football Club. He would have been brilliant under Guardiola. And then the power of Joelinton and the running ability of [Joe] Willock... [they have] a really, really good side, full of quality.
"Eddie Howe has done a pretty good job there and they've had a really good start of the season - results if not necessarily forms. There's more than enough (for Man City to be wary about). We probably don't need another battle right now, given the Arsenal result, but we're going to get it."
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'Man City are going to see Newcastle clash as a proper challenge'
McInerney feels that Man City will be "absolutely delighted" if they can come away from Newcastle with maximum points at maintain their position at the top of the table, considering the intense fixture schedule that they are faced with.
"[Saturday] is another test and if City can come out of this with three points at sit top of the league, I think they'll be absolutely delighted, and rightfully so, because of the run of games and the congestion," McInerney added.
"Inter, Arsenal and Watford - obviously you wouldn't add [Watford] to the run of games to be worried about, but you would in terms of [the time difference between] the Arsenal game - and then Newcastle. It's so hard, it's really hard to play that intensely, so I think City are going to see this as a proper challenge.
"It's a really testing time after a reasonably easier start to season in terms of fixtures... I look at groups of games and how you navigate them. The Newcastle game will be the end of another group of games and after that, you've got Slovan Bratislava (in the Champions League), you've got Fulham and then another international break.
"If City can get through that [and stay] top of the league - and hopefully win their first Champions League game - they'll be in a really good place."
Man City can move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table if they beat Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime, before second-placed Liverpool travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers and fourth-placed Arsenal play host to Leicester City later in the day.
However, the reigning champions will have to cope without star midfielder Rodri, who is facing a significant period on the sidelines with knee ligament damage, while Kevin De Bruyne is doubtful with a groin problem.
Oliver Thomas
