'Hoodoo': Chris Sutton lets history dictate his prediction as he says who will win between Manchester City and Newcastle United

 · February 14 2025, 11:30
'Hoodoo': Chris Sutton lets history dictate his prediction as he says who will win between Manchester City and Newcastle United
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The Etihad will play host to Newcastle United's latest Premier League fixture as they take on Manchester City in a 3pm non-televised kick-off on Saturday.

Both sides have been difficult to predict this season as they've both found themselves losing to teams they'd be expected to beat.

Manchester City have been spectacularly inconsistent this season, giving teams hope whenever they encounter them.

Indeed, Newcastle are currently the meat in a Real Madrid sandwich as City look to progress in the Champions League, but they will have to overcome a 2-1 reverse after Jude Bellingham's late winner on Tuesday night. Hopefully, this will be a big distraction for City, which will allow Newcastle to take advantage.

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Anthony Gordon won and scored a penalty to level the score at St James' park

Chris Sutton expects Newcastle's Etihad curse to continue

Chris Sutton has gone with history over current situations to make his prediction for the BBC, however, noting that Newcastle have never won at the Etihad with Newcastle's last win over Manchester City coming at Maine Road when Alan Shearer bagged the winner.

"I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 live and there is no way City are keeping a clean sheet.

"In fact, until I realised just how bad Newcastle's record is at the Etihad, I was thinking of backing Eddie Howe's side to win.

"City have won the past 10 league games between the two sides here, and my old Blackburn strike partner Alan Shearer got the winner the last time Newcastle took the points at City - in September 2000 at their old Maine Road ground.

"That all points to a City win for me, far more than their current form does anyway.

"Let's face it, form does not really help me much anyway at the moment. Who could have seen Newcastle losing at home to Fulham in their last league game?

"So I may as well say a hoodoo like this one will continue and City will get over the line, even if Newcastle do definitely have a goal or two in them.

"I don't think it will make much difference who City start in goal, because Ederson and Stefan Ortega have both made mistakes this season, but it is going to be interesting to see who Pep Guardiola picks with the second leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid coming up next week.

"Sutton's prediction: 2-1"
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It's the battle of the strikers at the Etihad

Sutton has broken the trend after both Paul Merson and Jamie Carragher backed a 2-1 win for the visitors, but we can see where Sutton is coming from.

However, Newcastle have been on a mission breaking records and hoodoos this season, so what's to say they can't do it again on Saturday?

We're just glad we don't have to make the prediction. Although I do predict there's going to be a lot of talk about Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland during and after the game.

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