Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Considering everything we have put into the last few weeks, that was a good performance. Wasn't good enough but we went toe to toe with them. We were equals in the game, we were well in it. Didn't defend the two goals well enough, that's the disappointment really.

On the belief in his side: "Belief was there right until the end, that [Harvey] Barnes shot at the end which was a good save. You never quite know how the game will pan out but it is important that you start well and the last few times we have come here, we have conceded early."

Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall speaking to TNT Sports: "I think we can be very proud of the effort we put in, it's been a difficult week for us in terms of travelling, a long away day [midweek] and got back in the early hours. To come here against some of the best players in the world an go toe to toe with them, unfortunately we weren't table to get a result, but we can be proud of the performance.

"We knew the game would be high intensity so we had to be on our game. I thought we were good in a lot of aspects and we can be proud of that moving forward. I feel as a team the last few games we have played really well.

"I'm a defender, that's my first job but I'm proud of myself of starting attacks, I want to get more goals and assists."

Did you know?

• Newcastle United lost their seventh Premier League away game of the season which is already as many defeats as they had on the road as in the whole of 2024-25.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle demonstrated outstanding powers of recovery to show such energy and work-rate after the lengthy Champions League journey to Azerbaijan - and left Manchester nursing a sense of injustice that they did not earn at least a point.

It took that magnificent save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to stop Harvey Barnes in that dramatic finale, while Newcastle were also frustrated after they felt Dan Burn had been pushed into an offside position by Ruben Dias when his first-half header was ruled out.

Newcastle's display will have left manager Eddie Howe satisfied despite what is now a traditional loss against City, who are unbeaten in 21 Premier League home games against the Magpies, winning the past 17.

Anthony Gordon's pace troubled City throughout, and Newcastle will feel they might have secured a point for their efforts.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola makes nine changes from the team that beat Salford City 2-0 in the FA Cup fourth round, with his rested stars restored.

Only Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush remain from that side, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Antoine Semenyo among those back in the starting line-up.

Arsenal's slip at Wolves in midweek has opened the door for Manchester City in the Premier League and that line-up reflects it.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Guehi, Rodri, Silva, Ait-Nouri, Nunes, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Marmoush

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Cherki, Gonzalez, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe makes just one change from the team that effective assured qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a comprehensive 6-1 win away to Qarabag in the play-off first leg.

Jacob Ramsey, a second half substitute in Azerbaijan, comes in for Harvey Barnes.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Hall, Tonali, Gordon, Thiaw, Elanga, Woltemade, Willock, Burn, Ramsey

Subs: Ruddy, Ramsdale, Joelinton, Barnes, Osula, Murphy, Murphy, Shahar, Neave

Image source, BBC Sport

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Brentford v Brighton

• Chelsea v Burnley - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• West Ham v Bournemouth (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Newcastle (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to Aston Villa v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Newcastle", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

This is the fourth meeting between these two clubs already this season, with another to come soon in the FA Cup fifth round - I bet they are sick of each other already.

Newcastle have a long trip back from Azerbaijan to contend with before this game but at least they have put their Champions League tie with Qarabag to bed already and can focus fully on City rather than next week's second leg.

The Magpies still have an awful record at Etihad, however - they lost here in the Carabao Cup in January and have never managed a win in 20 visits in the Premier League.

I don't think this will be easy for City, but I do think they will beat them, again, to move within two points of Arsenal.

The only thing I am not sure about is whether to captain Erling Haaland in my Fantasy team, because he has been out injured.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Having been drawn to face each other in the FA Cup fifth round, Manchester City host Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (20:00 GMT) hoping to narrow the five-point gap between themselves and league leaders Arsenal.

The clubs have already played each other in a two-legged League Cup semi-final and could potentially meet again in the last four of the Champions League, leading to some cries of fatigue from their supporters.

Pep Guardiola's focus, however, will be solely on avenging a 2-1 reverse at St James' Park in November and using this game in hand to shrink the Gunners' lead to two points.

Citizens cane Magpies

City boast a frankly ridiculous home record against the Magpies. They are unbeaten in 21 and have won each of their past 16 meetings in Eastlands, the second longest home winning streak against an opponent in English top-flight history, after Everton's 22 consecutive wins over Fulham from 1961 to 2018.

The last six of those home wins over Newcastle have come without conceding a goal. Injuries have left City weak in central defence at times this season, but in attack they continue to possess an embarrassment of riches.

Amid increased competition for his place in the starting XI, homegrown hero Phil Foden is approaching a significant milestone. His next Premier League goal involvement will be his 100th for the club, an achievement unlocked by just five City players to date.

Toon's top-half travel troubles

Newcastle come into the game off the back of three straight wins in all competitions, but their league form has been far from good, with last week's 2-1 success at Tottenham Hotspur their first win in five attempts.

That result moved Eddie Howe's side 10th in the table but the Magpies' away record against teams starting the day in the top half is not an encouraging one for the travelling Toon Army; they're winless in 10 against such opposition, losing seven of those. Against teams in the top two, that record stretches to no wins in 37.

Harvey Barnes' impressive performances this season sparked rumours of a potential switch of international allegiance ahead of this summer's World Cup, although Scotland head coach Steve Clarke recently confirmed that the winger is concentrating on adding to his one England cap.

Having bagged a brace earlier in the season, Barnes is aiming to become the first Newcastle player to score home and away against City in the same league season since Alan Shearer in 2004-05.

Barnes and co will be aiming to fire Newcastle to their first top-flight league double over Manchester City since 1955-56. However, the omens are not good; they've played 20 Premier League games at the Etihad without a victory (drawn two, lost 18), the most any team has played at a stadium without winning in the competition's history.

The latest news and views on the Toon in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at the Etihad (kick-off 20:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Yoane Wissa took a "nasty knock" in training so is unlikely to feature against City.

• Howe has no update on Bruno Guimaraes, while Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley are also still out - but Sven Botman could return to face City.

• The exchange between Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon about who would take the penalty against Qarabag has been "blown out of proportion", Howe says, and he has "no issue" with either player.

• Gordon's performance against Qarabag "delighted" Howe: "The Champions League has certainly got the best out of him and long may it continue."

• Howe said that "sleep was an issue" after returning from Azerbaijan at 4am, but the players should be fine before the City game.

• On being pushed forward by players to get his applause from fans in the stands at the end of games: "I want to improve my relationship with all my players at all times and I think the only way I can do that is working for them, investing in the person, and I have a big responsibility to help them - in good times and bad times."

• Howe said that City are the "benchmark" team, but insists that "every team is beatable" and that "we learn something more about ourselves and our game going forward every time we play them."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Newcastle? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

Newcastle's England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, says he will not let transfer speculation affect him after being linked with Liverpool and Arsenal. (Sun), external

Manchester City's English goalkeeper James Trafford, 23, is prioritising a move to Aston Villa over Newcastle United this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle's four-goal hero Anthony Gordon and captain Kieran Trippier insist an on-pitch spat has already been put behind them.

The pair exchanged words during Wednesday's 6-1 drubbing of Qarabag when Gordon - having already scored a hat-trick - refused Trippier's request that he hand over a penalty-kick to Nick Woltemade.

In the aftermath, Trippier joked both he and Gordon may need to don boxing gloves in training.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Trippier said: "Obviously Gordy had scored a hat-trick and I think about other players and I wanted Nick to take the penalty.

"But also he [Gordon] is our penalty-taker, so he wants to score goals, as everybody else does, but ultimately he's the penalty-taker.

"Listen in football, emotions are high on the pitch at times, but it is what it is. He scored four goals, he was unbelievable today and now we move on."

On Thursday, Trippier posted an image on Instagram of him and Gordon embracing after a goal.

It was a landmark night for 24-year-old Gordon as he scored his 14th goal in 36 outings in all competitions this season.

Ten of his goals have come in the Champions League, meaning he is just the second Englishman to reach double figures for goals in the competition in a season, after Harry Kane's 11 for Bayern Munich in 2024-25.

On his clash with Trippier, Gordon said: "Listen, I understand everyone's opinion because I want everyone to succeed. We're a team, we should be in it together.

"But I'm an attacker, I'm the penalty-taker, so I want to score as many goals as I possibly can. But understood everyone's opinion.

"Emotions do get high, but he [Trippier] is one of my closest team-mates, he has been since I joined the club. He's done so much for me, so he's all right."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Newcastle's 6-1 win over Qarabag in the first leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie.

Here are some of your comments:

Jim: Qarabag were poor opposition. They made lots of mistakes that left the game open for us. Newcastle did well to take advantage of the situation. I felt Newcastle should have scored more. Gordon scored four but the team all did really well and everyone played their part.

John: An excellent performance. The change in Nick playing a deeper role has been eye-opening in the last two matches. seven English starters bodes well with two of international quality to come back. The future looks positive to say the least.

Barry: Brilliant night, so proud of the lads. Pope would normally have stopped their goal, but had probably gone cold with nothing to do. Elanga still nowhere near the standard of the rest of the team and the difference Murphy made in his place was massive. Well done also to all our travelling supporters! HWTL.

David: Even for his MOTM performance, please try this level in the Prem Mr Gordon.

Kristin: Well done Newcastle but the biggest cheer should be for every single NUFC supporter who went to Baku - you were heard well and truly, and you all deserved that win. Well done to you all.

Neil: At what stage does Eddie trust the squad? Yes, great win but three youth players, who could have gained so much from 30 minutes. But no, must play the core team with a game with Man City three days away.

Watch and listen to BBC Radio Newcastle's Simon Pryde and former Magpies defender John Anderson, as they react to Wednesday's dominant Champions League win over Qarabag, discuss Anthony Gordon's four-goal performance and look ahead to next week's second leg and the next round.

"All the hard work was done in the opening 45 minutes," said Anderson.

"It could have been so many more.

"You would say job done, Howe can rest players next week.

"The second half was just about keeping it simple and avoiding injury because we have a big game on Saturday against Manchester City.

"Every time we went forward in that first half you thought we were going to score. We can just look forward to next week now.

"Recent months have been tough on the manager and tough on the players but the reaction to the Brentford defeat has been first-class.

"They took a lot of criticism and a lot of stick but the way they reacted against Spurs, against Aston Villa and again tonight has been excellent. They have shown a great attitude."

Watch a clip of Ando above - and hit play below to hear the full conversation or listen on BBC Sounds here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Anthony Gordon had already scored a hat-trick.

But the ruthless Newcastle United forward only had one thought in his mind at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.

Gordon had just won his side a penalty against Qarabag in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League play-off tie, and he was not about to hand the ball over after Kieran Trippier felt Nick Woltemade should get a chance to take the spot-kick.

It brought back one or two memories of the single-mindedness of Newcastle's greatest goalscorer, Alan Shearer.

In fact, after already netting four goals against Sheffield Wednesday, in 1999, Shearer told striker Paul Robinson where to go after his team-mate asked him if he could take a spot-kick.

So it was rather fitting that this was a night where Gordon overtook the Newcastle legend as the club's all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 10 goals.

Qarabag, in truth, played right into Gordon's hands. The sight of the rapid Gordon playing further forward than Woltemade appeared to catch Qarabag a little cold.

By the time they finally readjusted, and dropped deeper in the second half, the damage had been done, as Match of the Day pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger noted.

"I have to say I was surprised by how high Qarabag defended, and how they kept a high line in the first half when the Newcastle goals were going in," said the former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder.

"I was thinking: 'Are they not watching Newcastle and their recent games?' Why did they allow so much space for Gordon, who was brilliant all evening?"

Gordon has impressed in such a role away from home in recent weeks - opening the scoring at Anfield last month and setting up Jacob Ramsey's winner against Spurs last week.

He gives Eddie Howe's side something different through the middle with his movement and pace, and the Azerbaijan Premier League champions could not cope.

"He's been really good in that position," Howe said. "Looking back to the Liverpool game, where I thought he was excellent, he scores.

"He's shown he wants to play there and then he's got the quality to play there. His pressing today was incredible for us. That gave us the platform to rebuild off of his work.

"Of course, he's taken the four goals and will get the headlines, naturally, but his all-round game was really strong."

Read more on Gordon's record-breaking night

Newcastle United are interested in Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who is likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Manchester United and Everton are also keen on the 23-year-old. (Caught Offside, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Leon Osman, Thomas Hitzelsperger and Guillem Balague join host Gaby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from this week's Champions League play-off first legs, including Newcastle's emphatic win in Baku.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentary on BBC Sounds:

• Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Anthony Gordon's words proved rather prescient.

"In the Champions League, teams are much more open," he said just a few weeks ago. "They all try to play."

Never was that more apparent than on Wednesday night.

This was a new stage for both sides, neither of whom had reached the knockout stages of the Champions League before.

But the gulf in class was staggering.

Eddie Howe showed Qarabag huge respect by naming a strong side, but the Newcastle head coach also knew the hosts would leave gaps.

Gordon, in particular, exploited them as he led the line.

The forward was so hungry that, even after scoring his hat-trick, he grabbed the ball as designated penalty-taker to take the spot-kick for his fourth rather than giving it to Nick Woltemade.

Kieran Trippier, the stand-in captain, still appeared to be a little annoyed about that as the pair exchanged words after trudging off the field at half-time.

But it summed up Gordon's ruthless streak.

In truth, Gordon and his team-mates could have scored even more on a night Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski still, somehow, emerged with credit after making some fine saves.

Newcastle had 22 shots, 14 efforts on target and 39 touches inside the opposition box, but the visitors ultimately had to settle for just the six goals.

With the tie as good as over, Howe will now have the luxury of being able to rotate for the second leg at St James' Park next week - though you suspect Gordon will still be desperate to add to the 10 goals he has scored in the competition this season.

Listen to Gordon's reaction below or here on BBC Sounds

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "A tribute to the team today. We were really good in the first half. That's as good as we have played in a long time."

On not getting complacent at 4-0 up: "We wanted to keep the momentum in the second half. The game changed and they played lower on the pitch, which made it more difficult for us. Overall, it's a great day for us. We know the tie isn't dead or over, but we are in a great position.

On Anthony Gordon: "He was really good in that first half. He started the press and a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball. He could have had more, but a very good display."

Hit play above to hear more from Howe or listen on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• This was Newcastle's biggest margin of victory in the Champions League, and they are just the second side to lead a knockout-stage game by five or more goals at half-time, after Bayern Munich against Porto in 2015.

• Gordon is now Newcastle's top scorer in the Champions League (10), with his four goals seeing him overtake Alan Shearer (six). He is just the second Englishman to reach double figures for goals in the competition in a season, after Harry Kane's 11 for Bayern in 2024-25.

• Gordon also overtook Shay Given to become the Magpies' top appearance maker in he Champions League (15).