Manchester City reigned over the other 19 English teams in the 2013-2014 Premier League and claimed their second championship in three seasons. They begin their title defense this Saturday with a visit to St. James Park against Newcastle United. Newcastle United, in the meantime, has bought themselves some new weapons on offense that could power them back into the upper echelon of the league.
Read on for everything you need to know about what should be a cracking start to the Premier League season and check out our complete league preview and high-value sleeper picks for the 2014-2015 campaign.
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Manchester City vs. Newcastle United Prediction and Betting Preview
Where: St. James Park, Newcastle
When: Saturday, August 17, 11:00 AM ET
Line: Manchester City -190 at Newcastle United +425, tie +227; total 3.0 – view all EPL lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]After finishing in the top five two seasons ago, Newcastle United’s offense struggled mightily in the 2013-2014 Premier League. They have done their best to bolster their roster for the coming season, adding Emmanuel Riviere and Siem de Jong. Two 2014 World Cup players will also be suiting up for the Magpies in Dutchmen Daryl Janmaat and Tim Krul.
Nevertheless, Newcastle is in for a tough season opener against the defending champions, Manchester City, who will look to kick off their title defense with all three points away from home.
Betting on Manchester City
Manchester City led the league in scoring last season with a total of 102 goals in 38 matches. Ivorian powerhouse Yaya Toure topped the team’s goalscoring charts with 20, the most in his career.
Further forward from Toure is another scoring machine, Sergio Aguero. The Man City striker struggled in the World Cup playing alongside Lionel Messi, before an injury relegated him to a substitute role for his team’s final two games. Despite his shortcomings at the World Cup, Aguero’s club form remains impressive. He scored 17 goals last season in just 23 appearances last season.
Further solidifying Manchester City’s attack is Bosnia & Herzegovina star striker Edin Dzeko. The striker led his nation with 10 goals in World Cup qualifying. With the trifecta of devastating attackers, the Sky Blues won’t have many problems up front, especially against Newcastle’s struggling defense.
Manchester City remains solid through the middle of the field, with playmaker David Silva taking care of the midfield and team captain fullback Vincent Kompany in charge of the defense. The team also has a solid goalkeeper in Joe Hart, who has 100 career clean sheets in Premier League, UEFA Europa League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup matches since joining the club in 2006.
Manchester City is 12-1 against Newcastle United in Premier League matches since September 2007.
Betting on Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s offense struggled last season, scoring just 49 goals in 38 games played. However, the team’s frontline will have a new look this season as the Magpies are gunning for a top-five finish.
Monaco’s Emmanuel Riviere and Ajax midfielder Siem de Jong were brought in to sharpen up Newcastle’s offense. De Jong scored seven goals and had one assist in 16 appearances for Dutch club, but is doubtful for this game with a calf injury. Riviere scored 10 and assisted on two while playing for Monaco in the French Ligue 1.
But while they added some much-needed attacking weapons, Newcastle neglected to address their back field. Their defense remains essentially the same, with the exception of Dutch international right-back Daryl Janmaat replacing Mathieu Debuchy, who left for Arsenal. Newcastle conceded 59 goals in 38 games last season; only five other teams let in more.
With a terrible backline in place, the Magpies are assuring a difficult season for goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Dutch keeper made some noise as a late, 120th minute substitute at the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal match against Costa Rica, coming in and immediately winning the shootout for Netherlands. Krul will need to translate those penalty-saving heroics against a City team that will be raining shots at him from all angles.
Newcastle United is 3-7 in its last 10 home games in the 2013-2014 Premier League season.
Writer’s Prediction
Manchester City exploit Newcastle United’s defense. Take the total to go over 3.0 as Newcastle fires back with some new boots on offense. Create a betting account now and score some cash on the best of European soccer coming your way.
