MANCHESTER, England: Manchester City travel to Newcastle United for an early-morning clash this Sunday with Erling Haaland’s destructive power once again in the spotlight.
The Norwegian striker is in exceptional form, leading City’s attacking machine which is increasingly emerging as a major contender for the English Premier League (EPL) championship.
Pep Guardiola’s side returned from the international break on a run of four consecutive wins in all competitions, including a stylish 3-0 victory over Liverpool which marked the Spaniard’s 1,000th game in his managerial career.
With Arsenal slipping again and the points gap at the top is closing in, City are looking to maintain the momentum, while Haaland continues to shine with 32 goals in 20 games for club and country this season.
Newcastle, on the other hand, remain an unpredictable team.
Eddie Howe’s side have been struggling a bit with inconsistent performances – wins in the League Cup and Champions League – and league defeats that have left them in 14th place, just two points above the relegation zone.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will look to emerge from the post-championship shadow when they host struggling Nottingham Forest tomorrow night.
Arne Slot’s side slipped to eighth place after losing five of their six league games, with a heavy defeat at Manchester City before the break making matters worse.
There was a glimmer of hope through victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but consistent performances continued to plague Slot and his men.
Forest came into the game with confidence after a 3-1 win over Leeds United and a draw against Manchester United under Sean Dyche, but they remain second from bottom and have yet to win away from home.
Liverpool, who are eight points behind Arsenal, cannot afford to drop any more points.
With Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker on the verge of returning and Anfield support, the Reds are expecting three points.
Manchester United await the visit of Everton early Tuesday morning, aiming to continue their five-match unbeaten run under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils are now just one point off the top four, with Bryan Mbeumo’s goalscoring exploits being the catalyst for their recent comeback.