Newcastle vs Man City Bet Builder Tips: Foden to score in 22/1 #PickYourPunt

It's 2024 and for the second season running Manchester City have entered the New Year not sitting in top spot in the Premier League.

The reigning champions currently find themselves five points behind Liverpool in first but they have a game in hand over the Reds. There is no reason to fear because they were in this position last year with Arsenal last season, and in the final months of the campaign they were simply unstoppable.

Between February and May, Pep Guardiola's side won 12 games on the bounce to swoop in and retain their crown, which is what many are expecting them to do again this year.

They travel to Newcastle United on Saturday evening (17:30) hoping to make up some ground on their rivals. We have put together a 22/1 bet builder for you to consider ahead of this clash.

Man City to win

The Cityzens are starting to get into a rhythm of which we are all too familiar with, having won their last two league matches against Everton and Sheffield United. Yes, they are sides at the bottom end of the table but posting those consecutive victories, followed by a 5-0 hammering of Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup, has set them up nicely for their trip to Newcastle.

Newcastle have lost their last three in the Premier League, having been on a bit of a slump since the beginning of December. Things haven't been clicking as well for them as they had been previously, and they look set to be out of their depth against this in-form City side. This could be a long evening for the Magpies.

Phil Foden to score

With Erling Haaland having been sidelined for the past couple of weeks, Phil Foden has been active in contributing goals for his side. He was on the scoresheet against Everton, after having provided an assist against Crystal Palace. Foden then created the two goals in the win against Sheffield United.

The midfielder's confidence has been soaring of late and it showed as he netted a brace against the Terriers in the FA Cup. He will be making the trip to St James' Park full of confidence, as if he is primed for a title defence mode. When he is playing like this, he is virtually impossible to stop and we're backing him to grab his sixth league goal of the season.

Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon to get carded

These two Newcastle players have had a habit of going into the book this season. We are at a point now where you associate Bruno Guimaraes with a yellow card and vice versa because it is so common for him to get a booking.

The Brazilian has picked up the joint-most yellow cards in the Premier League this year (eight) and it is hardly surprising. He flies into challenges, recklessly at times, and he is known for losing his head when things aren't going Newcastle's way. Things haven't been going their way of late and they are likely going to have the ball passed around them by City, so he will need to break up play a lot, which isn't always clean.

Anthony Gordon has picked up a surprising seven bookings in the league so far, and he is another Magpies player who can let frustration get the better of him. In Eddie Howe's style, the wingers have just as much responsibility defending as they do getting forward. There have been times where Gordon has been exposed by this, having to commit tactical fouls, or when his lack of experience in defending have seen him poorly mistime his tackles.

If you imagine him trying to rob the ball back from the likes of Foden, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker on the transition, you will see why this is such a sensible selection.

(Place an In-Play bet of £10 or more (at odds of 1/2 or greater) on any Premier League or Championship game on Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use on Sunday’s Premier League games.)