Eddie Howe hails Manchester City as 'benchmark' for progress ahead of fourth meeting this season with Newcastle United
If you like watching Newcastle United take on Manchester City, then the 2025/26 season has been the one for you. The two sides will meet for the fourth time on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, live on TNT Sports with an 8pm kick-off.
There's another meeting at St James' Park to come in the FA Cup, too, as the two sides seem to be magnetically attracted to each other in cup competitions of late.
The two sides have been drawn together in cup competitions in five of the last six years, and this season they've met in the Carabao Cup and will meet in the FA Cup next month.
City have the beating of Newcastle on their home turf, but Newcastle have been able to hold their own at St James' Park.
Eddie Howe insists he learns from every meeting between Newcastle and Man City
Eddie Howe doesn't seem to mind going up against Pep Guardiola's side as he feels that he and his team learn something from every meeting.
"We learn something every game, not about them, but about us. They are the benchmark, with each painful defeat we have suffered, you grow from it."
We imagine, then, that Howe has learned a lot this season and still has some lessons to learn before the season is out.
There's one big question on Eddie Howe's Manchester City test on Saturday
Saturday night is going to be a huge test of what he's learned, with the big question on the test being: Have you learned how to win at the Etihad Stadium?
We won't go too hard on Howe or the side if we fail to pick up any points on Saturday, as long as the team makes a good go of it.
We rolled over and begged for belly scratches in the Carabao Cup in both legs, so we're hoping we at least give them a fight on Saturday night. At least make them work for it.
