12.01.2014. Sunday’s Barclays Premier League action sees title challengers Manchester City travel to St James Park to face Newcastle whilst Liverpool face a tough trip to the Brittania Stadium to play Stoke in a weekend which sees all 20 teams play the reverse fixture from the opening day of the Premier League season.
Newcastle v Manchester City on Sunday, January 12th
Newcastle go into Sunday’s opening game sat in eighth place however the Magpies have lost their last three matches in all competitions including an FA Cup third round defeat at home to Cardiff. The reverse fixture did not go at all well for Alan Pardew’s men with Manchester City recording an emphatic 4-0 win on the opening day of the season thanks to goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri. Newcastle supporters will certainly be hoping for a different outcome at home on Sunday with a good result necessary for Newcastle to stay in touching distance with the top seven.
Manchester City have the chance to go top of the table on Sunday with current leaders Arsenal not in action until Monday evening. City have won eight of their last nine games in the Premier League including three of their last four away games which is a huge improvement on their early season struggles away from home. Premier League manager of the month for December Manuel Pellegrini will know claiming three points at St James Park is no easy task however, given his side’s current vein of form, the Chilean will be hoping his Manchester City side can do just that on Sunday.
Newcastle will be without Captain Fabricio Coloccini and Mathieu Debuchy on Sunday through injury and suspension respectively. Alan Pardew will however hope to have midfielder Yohan Cabaye back in the starting XI following an Achilles injury.
Sergio Aguero is back in training for Manchester City however Sunday’s trip to Newcastle will most likely come too soon for the Argentine to feature. Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas and Micah Richards are all available for selection by Manuel Pellegrini after overcoming recent injury problems.
Stoke v Liverpool on Sunday, Janaury 12th
Stoke welcome Liverpool to the Brittania Stadium on Sunday hoping to continue their impressive home form which has seen Mark Hughes’ side defeat Chelsea and only lose once all season. Stoke currently sit 12th in the Barclays Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone, however a victory on Sunday could see the Potters enter the top half of the table. Stoke are currently on a three game winless streak in the Premier League and will be seeking revenge on Liverpool who tasted victory in this clash on the opening day of the season thanks in part to a late Simon Mignolet penalty save.
Liverpool are currently on track to achieve their goal of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League however anything less than three points at the Brittania could see Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United make up ground in the race for fourth place. Much of Liverpool’s good form this season is down to Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez who has been named Barclays Premier League player of the month for December after becoming the first man to score ten goals in a single calendar month. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping his team can do what no other Liverpool side has done in the Premier League and win at the Brittania Stadium.
Stoke winger Oussama Assaidi is ineligible to play on Sunday as he is on loan from Liverpool whilst Jack Butland will continue in goal for the home side in the absence of first choice goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Liverpool will be without Daniel Agger after the Danish defender picked up a calf strain last Sunday however Mamadou Sakho has returned to training after a hamstring injury and could return to the first XI. Elsewhere Daniel Sturridge could come back into the line up after a spell on the sidelines although Liverpool remain without Joe Allen, Jon Flanagan and Jose Enrique.
