Pep Guardiola’s side are traditionally comfortable in the League Cup – City have won 11 of their last 15 matches in the competition and are unbeaten in 16 of 20. The home statistics look particularly convincing: 11 wins in 12 matches at this stage of the competition. Even with personnel losses, the depth of the squad allows the hosts not to reduce the pace and dictate the conditions of the game. However, the “townsmen” still have problems with keeping a winning score – it is enough to remember the last match in the Premier League against Tottenham, where Guardiola’s wards had a two-goal advantage at the end of the first half, but lost it after the break. City also now have a two-goal lead…

For Newcastle, who are the current holders of the trophy, the match in Manchester is a real test of character and belief in a miracle. Eddie Gow’s side are going through a tough stretch with a multi-tournament winless streak, problems in converting chances and a vulnerable away game that has seen the Magpies winless in most of their recent matches. The last game against Liverpool ended in a crushing defeat with a score of 1:4 – such a loud bell that not everyone is perfect at Newcastle right now.

At the same time, the English League Cup traditionally remains a tournament in which Newcastle feels more confident than in the championship. Winning 15 of the last 20 cup matches and the ability to play for results leaves the team with chances even in difficult circumstances. Special attention should be paid to Harvey Barnes, one of the team’s most productive players this season, able to solve an episode even with a minimum of space. In this context, one cannot fail to mention Anthony Gordon.