SPORTS UPDATE: NEWCASTLE UTD VS MANCHESTER CITY @ 6:00PM Newcastle summer signing Siem de Jong is out with a foot problem, while Cheick Tiote, Davide Santon and Papiss Cisse are also sidelined. The Magpies could hand debuts to Daryl Janmaat, Remy Cabella, Emmanuel Riviere and Jack Colback. Manchester Citys Alvaro Negredo is injured, but Sergio Aguero may feature despite lacking match fitness. Manager Manuel Pellegrini must also choose whether to field Joe Hart or summer signing Willy Caballero in goal. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League matches (16 in all competitions) against Newcastle. • City have won their last nine league games against the Magpies (10 in all competitions). • Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko scored as City won this fixture 2-0 in January. They also netted in Citys 2-0 win at St James Park in a League Cup fourth round tie in October 2013. Newcastle United • The Magpies have failed to score in their opening game in three of their four seasons since returning to the top flight (W1, D1, L2). • They lost seven of their last eight Premier League games in 2013-14, and 11 out of 15 since the start of February. • Summer signing Remy Cabella, who has joined from Montpellier, had more touches in the opposition half (2019) than any other player in Ligue 1 last season. Manchester City • City have not lost their first game in a Premier League season since 2008, when they were beaten 4-2 by Aston Villa. They have won four of their last five opening matches (W4, D1). • Yaya Toure had more touches (2,502) and attempted more passes (2,255) than any other Premier League player in 2013-14. • Toures haul of 20 Premier League goals equalled his combined tally from the previous three seasons and saw him become the second central midfielder, after Frank Lampard, to reach the 20-goal mark. • Lampard has played 47,879 Premier League minutes - more than any other outfield player. LIVERPOOL VS SOUTHAMPTON @ 3:30PM Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert may make their Liverpool debuts against their former club, but Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic are both ruled out. Jon Flanagan and Daniel Agger are sidelined with knee problems. New Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is set to hand a start to former Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Many of Saints other new arrivals may also make their debuts, including Shane Long, Dusan Tadic, Ryan Bertrand and Saphir Taider. Only new defensive acquisition Florin Gardos (hamstring) is a certain absentee, with midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin in contention despite ongoing rumours of a move to Tottenham. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Southamptons 1-0 win at Liverpool last season means they have won two of their last four games at Anfield (W2, L2). • They have never before won back-to-back league games away to the Reds. Liverpool • Last years 1-0 win against Stoke was the first time in five seasons that Liverpool have won their opening league match (D2, L2). • The Reds scored more Premier League goals from counter-attacks (nine) than any other side last season. • The goals scored by Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge earned his side 20 points in 2013-14 - more than any other player in the top flight. • The Reds made fewer substitutions (89) than any other Premier League team in 2013-14. Southampton • Saints 1-0 victory against West Brom 12 months ago was the first time they had begun a Premier League season with a victory since 1999. • Summer signing Dusan Tadic created 133 goalscoring chances for FC Twente last season - that is 46 more than any other player in the Dutch top flight. • They kept 15 clean sheets in last seasons Premier League - only Chelsea (18), Arsenal (17) and Manchester City (16) managed more. DID YOU ENJOY OPENING DAY MATCHES AND WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY?
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 10:48:02 +0000
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