Newcastle United face a monumental task as they prepare to host Manchester City at St James' Park, with historical statistics painting a bleak picture for the Magpies.
A History of Dominance
The numbers tell a story of one-sided Premier League history. Newcastle have managed just a single victory in their last 35 league encounters with Manchester City, suffering a staggering 28 defeats during that period. Manager Eddie Howe's personal record against the Citizens is equally concerning, with just two draws and sixteen losses from his eighteen league meetings.
Manchester City's attacking prowess against Newcastle is particularly formidable. City have scored in every one of their last 33 league matches against Newcastle, a run that places them among an elite group in English top-flight history.
Historical Context and Current Form
Only three sides have ever bettered such a scoring run against the same opponent. Chelsea managed 37 consecutive scoring games against Newcastle between 1933 and 1969, while Tottenham Hotspur achieved 35 between 1922 and 1961. Everton complete the list with 34 games against Blackburn Rovers from 1925 to 1962.
The challenge for Newcastle is compounded by their current form, having lost their last two league matches. Meanwhile, Manchester City's Erling Haaland arrives in devastating goalscoring form, with 14 domestic goals this season and 32 in 20 appearances overall.
Can Newcastle Change Their Fortune?
As kick-off approaches at 5.30pm GMT, Newcastle fans will be hoping their team can finally break this long-standing pattern. While the historical data suggests another difficult evening for the Toon Army, football has a habit of producing surprises when least expected.
All attention will be on whether Eddie Howe can mastermind a result that skews these overwhelming statistics and delivers what would be considered a seismic victory for Newcastle United.
