Newcastle host unbeaten Premier League champions Manchester City this weekend, live on talkSPORT.

The Toon’s last two home league meetings with Pep Guardiola‘s side have seen 11 goals shared between the two.

Man City snatched a draw against Arsenal in stoppage time last weekGetty

However, despite sitting in sixth place, the Toon have struggled to hit the heights they’ve shown under Eddie Howe so far this season.

The Magpies have looked weak defensively and without a clear plan on the ball and have mainly relied on individual moments of quality to win games, which Howe has admitted isn’t sustainable.

Meanwhile, City are unbeaten in the league this term after narrowly avoiding defeat to Arsenal last week.

And the Citizens head to Tyneside knowing they can extend their lead at the top of the table to four points before Arsenal and Liverpool play.

Newcastle vs Man City: How to deal without Rodri?

City won their first three league games of the season without Rodri because he was given extra time off after helping Spain win Euro 2024.

He made his first top-flight start of the season in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal but came off before half time after an accidental collision with Thomas Partey saw him twist his knee.

Since then, the Citizens have confirmed that the Spaniard has suffered ligament damage and faces a long spell on the sidelines.

City’s only defeats, bar one, last season came when Rodri wasn’t playing, so for them to not have him available for months is going to be a real challenge.

The first test without him starts this weekend.

Rodri is set for a while on the sidelines, testing City’s midfield depthGetty

Newcastle have won just one of their last 33 Premier League games against Manchester City (D5 L27), a 2-1 home win in January 2019 under Rafael Benítez.

Manchester City have scored in each of their last 31 Premier League games against Newcastle, the longest scoring streak one team has against another in the competition’s history.

In their Premier League history, Manchester City have won more games (31), more away games (12) and scored more goals (101) against Newcastle than they have vs any other opponent.

Newcastle vs Man City: Date and how to follow

This Premier League game is set to take place on Saturday, September 28.

Kick-off at St James’ Park is scheduled for 12:30pm.

talkSPORT will have live and EXCLUSIVE coverage from the north east, with Reshmin Chowdhury serving as your presenter.

Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and England icon Stuart Pearce.

talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date on out dedicated Premier League blog.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Newcastle fell to their first defeat of the season against FulhamGetty

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League home games, winning six and drawing four. However, Manchester City were the last side to beat them at St James’ Park (3-2 in January).

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 28 league games (W23 D5), with John Stones keeping that run going courtesy of a 98th minute equaliser against Arsenal last time out. 24 of these games have been in 2024, the longest run without a Premier League defeat from the start of a calendar year since Chelsea in 2008 (26).

Newcastle have scored in each of their last 21 Premier League home games, since a 0-0 draw with Leicester in May 2023. It’s the longest ongoing home scoring streak of any side in the competition.

Newcastle vs Man City: Team news and predicted line-ups

The Magpies are without Callum Wilson, who has suffered a delay in his recovery from a back injury.

The hosts also have three long-term injuries, in Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Lewis Miley.

There are a few players who are nailed on to start for the Magpies, including Nick Pope, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.

However, in other areas of the pitch, Howe has a few decisions to make.

At full-back, we are likely to see Lloyd Kelly and Valentino Livramento because they are better defensively than Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall.

In midfield, Joelinton could be dropped for Sean Longstaff after a succession of poor displays, while Newcastle fans are hoping Sandro Tonali will finally start.

On the left, Harvey Barnes has been the Toon’s best player this year and is their top goalscorer with three, while Anthony Gordon will have to make do with a place on the right.

Newcastle will look to have legs in midfield and defensively solid full-backs

Meanwhile, City will need to find a way to cope without Rodri.

Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are also long-term injury worries but Kevin De Bruyne has a chance of being involved.

Again, there are a few players who are certain to start, including Ederson, Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.

Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji are likely to partner each other in the heart of the defence.

Rico Lewis should replace Kyle Walker at right-back after a poor display from the experienced defender against Arsenal, while Josko Gvardiol is City’s main left-back now.

If De Bruyne can’t play, expect to see Ilkay Gundogan.

Phil Foden also might get a first start of the season with Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva also playing.

Despite not having Rodri, City’s team is still excellent

Newcastle have faced more shots from high turnovers than any other side in the Premier League this season (15), while no side have scored more such goals so far than Manchester City (2).

Man City have scored more goals (4) and had more shots (40) from outside the box than any other side in the Premier League this season. 40% of their attempts from distance (16/40) came in the second half of their most recent match against Arsenal.

Harvey Barnes has been involved in a goal in each of his last four Premier League games for Newcastle (3 goals, 1 assist), his joint best ever run in the top-flight. Overall, he averages a goal or assist every 87 minutes for the Magpies (8 goals, 4 assists in 1042 minutes), the best rate of any player at the club (min. 1000 mins).

Man City’s Erling Haaland has scored 10 goals in five Premier League games this season, the earliest a player has ever reached double figures from the start of a campaign in the competition. The Norwegian could become only the second player ever to score in each of a team’s first six matches of a Premier League season, after Sergio Agüero did so for the Citizens in 2019-20.

Newcastle vs Man City: What has been said?

Speaking after Man City’s 2-1 win over Watford in the Carabao Cup, Guardiola revealed that he would be without Rodri for some time.

He said: “Still we don’t have the definitive [diagnosis] but he will be out for a long time – a while.

“But there are some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expected.

“One doctor says big, big injury, one not as much.”