Five changes for City - Semenyo starts | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has made five changes from the side that started against Exeter for our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg away to Newcastle.

Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly, Bernardo, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku all return to the starting XI.

Making way are Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Ryan McAidoo, Rayan Cherki and Rico Lewis.

Rayan Ait-Nouri returns on the bench.

Line-ups

CITY: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Bernardo (c), O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Cherki, Rodri, Ait-Nouri, McAidoo, Gray, Mukasa, Lewis

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Guimaraes (c), Ramsey, Joelinton, Murphy, Wissa, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Tonali, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, Willock, A .Murphy, Neave

Formation and tactics

City look set to line-up 4-2-3-1.

In front of James Trafford will be Nunes and Nathan Ake as right and left-back respectively.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne will continue as the centre-back pairing.

On paper, we can assume Nico O’Reilly and Bernardo will take up the anchor midfield roles, with Foden in the more advanced central role.

Doku and Antoine Semenyo will be on either flank with Erling Haaland down the middle.

Joelinton and Guimarães will provide an aggressive centre for the Magpies, with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy a threat down either flank.

Harvey Barnes, in such a rich vein of form of late, surprisingly starts on a strong-looking the bench.

Pep’s balancing act

Trying to win four competitions is a tricky , almost impossible task.

It means a packed schedule, three games per week and a squad stretched to it’s very limits.

It is possible, however, and if anyone can get the balance right, it’s Pep Guardiola.

With the Manchester derby at the weekend followed quickly by a chance to edge closer to a Champions League Round of 16 spot against Bodo / Glimt just a few days later, the boss will be thinking overtime about who can play when and where.

It’s likely 20 or more players will be used over the next three matches, with all three challenging in different ways.

There will be no compromises and each team will be selected to win the games - this is where the boss really comes into his own and why he loves being a manager so much.

Blues must stand firm

St James’ Park will be rocking, make no mistake about it.

The Toon Army’s long wait for silverware ended by winning this competition last year and now they are dreaming that - just like buses - two will come along in succession.

Almost 5,000 City fans will be making plenty of noise as well, but drowning out the home support as quickly as possible could be key to getting the sort of result we are after this evening.

Newcastle will come at us from the off and the noise will be tremendous - but see out that storm, settle into our game plan and take our chances when they come and we may start the second leg in a very strong position.

Stats & Milestones

Newcastle have already beaten City 2-1 in the Premier League this season – they’ve not beaten the Citizens twice in the same campaign since 1983-84.

City have lost their last two League Cup ties against Newcastle, going down 2-0 at home in October 2014 and 1-0 away in September 2023.

Newcastle have progressed from all three of their League Cup semi-final ties, the best 100% record in the competition’s history. Meanwhile, the holders have only fallen at this stage of the competition twice before – Tottenham in 1971-72 and Blackburn in 2002-03.

City have knocked out the League Cup holders the last two times they’ve faced them, beating Birmingham City 2-0 in September 2011, and Liverpool 3-2 in December 2022.

Newcastle have won each of their last nine matches in the League Cup. Excluding shootout victories, only Liverpool (11 between 1994-1995) and Arsenal (10 between 1987-1988) have won more consecutively.

City have progressed from each of their last six League Cup semi-final ties, going on to win the trophy each time. They last fell at this stage in 2011-12 against eventual winners Liverpool.

Yoane Wissa has scored five goals in his last six League Cup starts, netting his first goal for Newcastle in their quarter-final win over Fulham.

City’s Rayan Cherki has been involved in three goals in his two League Cup games (2 goals, 1 assist), with no player remaining in the competition being involved in more this term.

City v Newcastle Second leg tickets available!

See the conclusion of what promises to be a thrilling final four tie at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 4 February.

Newcastle are the holders of the Carabao Cup and will be determined to hold on their crown, while City are seeking a ninth success in League Cup history.

Tickets start from £20 for adults and £10 for concessions, while a wide of hospitality packages are also on offer to make it a special occasion!

*Tickets on sale to Season Ticket Members and Official Members who have previously attended at least one fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

Get your tickets here!