One of the standout ties of the FA Cup fifth round sees Newcastle United host Manchester City in an all-Premier League showdown on Saturday evening.
The Magpies and City meet for the fifth time this season when they square off in the FA Cup fifth round at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
City lead on that head-to-head record 3-1, having got the better of the Tynesiders in both legs of their EFL Cup semi-final earlier this year, while they also won 2-1 at home in the most recent meeting in the league last month.
Newcastle did triumph at home in the league, though, winning 2-1 back in November.
Here are our FA Cup football betting selections for the game, with this bet builder paying out at 6/1.
Selections
Manchester City to win @ 1/1
Both teams to score @ 1/2
Tijjani Reijnders to have 1+ shot on target @ 8/11
Phil Foden to have 2+ shots @ 4/9
Pays 6/1
City to book quarter-final place
You only have to go back a fortnight for the last meeting between the two sides, when City triumphed 2-1 at the Etihad in the league, while Pep Guardiola’s men also came out on top against the Magpies in both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final, winning 2-0 at St James’ Park and 3-1 at home.
Newcastle should be buoyed by their 2-1 home win over Manchester United on Wednesday, when they played the whole of the second half with 10 men following Jacob Ramsey’s sending-off, while the Citizens slipped up in the title race, drawing 2-2 at home with Nottingham Forest.
However, despite those contrasting results, City remain formidable opponents for anyone and with both managers expected to make changes, the visitors’ greater squad depth should tell.
Guardiola can bring in the likes of Jeremy Doku, Tijjani Reijnders and Omar Marmoush and they still look extremely strong and they have the attacking threat to cause the hosts all sorts of problems.
Leg 1: Manchester City to win @ 1/1
Magpies can have their moments
City are tipped to win but Newcastle should push them close in the tie and the hosts are expected to score on Saturday.
Three of the four meetings this season have featured goals at both ends and there is so much attacking prowess in both camps to suggest that trend will continue.
Erling Haaland is an obvious goal threat for the visitors, backed up by the likes of Phil Foden, Doku and Marmoush, while Eddie Howe is expected to call upon Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Yoane Wissa, who are all among his offensive options.
Furthermore, both teams have scored in Newcastle’s last 11 matches in all competitions and there have been goals at both ends in five of City’s last eight outings.
Leg 2: Both teams to score @ 1/2
Reijnders can be relied upon
Tijjani Reijnders was an unused sub on Wednesday in the draw with Forest, so there seems a high chance the Dutchman will get the nod to start in the cup.
Reijnders has weighed in with an important seven goals in all competitions this season, including one in the 10-1 third-round rout of Exeter City and one in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg win over Newcastle, so he is backable to have at least one shot on target as part of a Bet Builder.
The 27-year-old has had at least one shot on target in 21 of his 39 games this season and managed three on target in total the last time he faced Newcastle in that League Cup victory.
Tijjani Reijnders to have 1+ shot on target @ 8/11
Newcastle will fear Foden
Foden is often involved in the thick of City’s attacking output and the England international regularly has multiple shots per game.
The playmaker has had two or more shots in three of his last four matches and overall this season in 25 of his 38 appearances.
Phil Foden to have 2+ shots @ 4/9
