Manchester City vs Newcastle United

Former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini has been selected as the man who has to wrestle the title back from City’s neighbors United. Most of the City fans would not have been too familiar with the former Chilean International but they can be rest assured that the City board have appointed a man with a high pedigree.
City have again spent big this summer bringing in the likes of Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas for a combined fee of a whopping £95million. With such a huge outlay on new players, City have made their intention clear in wanting to win back the title.
Yaya Toure, Mateja Nastasic and Sergio Aguero are doubtful for the game. Fernandinho will most probably make his debut with either Alvaro Negredo or Stevan Jovetic partnering Edin Dzeko in attack. Spanish duo David Silva and Jesus Navas will be handed the task of providing the creative spark. Navas, in particular, will give City’s play a new dimension as he will add width to their play.
The defence will consist of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Micah Richards in front of England number one Joe Hart in goal.

After such a wonderful season in the 2011/12 season, Newcastle United had a very disappointing season last year finishing 16^th and only narrowly avoiding relegation. There has been controversy in the summer as the Magpies appointed Joe Kinnear as the Director of Football, a decision which has not pleased the fans.
Newcastle have so far only brought in Loic Remy on loan in the summer but he will be missing the match with a calf injury. Davide Santon, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez and Massadio Haidara are all doubtful for the game with injury problems.
Papiss Cisse will lead the line for Newcastle with the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoann Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko providing support. Yohan Cabaye will be pulling the strings from midfield with Cheick Tiote playing in a holding role.
Despite a lot of speculation about Fabricio Coloccini’s future at St. James’ Park, the Argentine has stayed put at the club and will lead his side out on Monday. He will be accompanied in defence by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mathieu Debuchy and Davide Santon in front of Tim Krul in goal.
Probable Line-ups
Manchester City (Probable XI): Hart; Clichy, Kompany, Richards, Zabaleta; Silva, Milner, Fernandinho, Navas; Dzeko, Negredo
Newcastle United(Probable XI): Krul; Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Debuchy; Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran; Cisse
Match
Manuel Pellegrini’s teams over the years have played an attractive brand of football and the City fans will be treated to some entertaining stuff at the Etihad this season. Manchester City will head into the game looking to assert themselves early on and get a breakthrough.
Newcastle United will be hoping that can absorb the City pressure and not concede an early goal. The Magpies do have creative players in Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse who can cause the home team some problems, as well.