TITLE DEFENSE: NEWCASTLE HOST INJURY-HIT MAN CITY IN CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL THRILLER
Eddie Howe vs Pep Guardiola: The Carabao Cup semi-final first leg is here. Will Newcastle continue their home winning streak?
Newcastle United have a shot at defending their Carabao Cup title as they welcome Manchester City to St. James’ Park for the first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday night.
Last season, the Magpies finally broke their 70-year trophy drought, taking down Liverpool 2–1 at Wembley. Now, Eddie Howe’s squad are riding a four-game unbeaten streak since they lost 1–0 to Manchester United in December. That run includes wins over Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Leeds United in the Premier League.
They come into this game on the back of a wild FA Cup third-round win, squeezing past Bournemouth 7–6 on penalties. The mood around the club is buzzing, but Howe knows City won’t make it easy. He’s counting on the home crowd to make a difference.
“Everyone wants the home leg second, so you know exactly what you need, and you’ve got the fans behind you,” Howe said. “We don’t have that luxury this time. We need to use the home crowd from the start and give everything to set the tone.”
Newcastle are chasing a fifth straight home win. Howe likes the two-leg format of the semi-final, even if the challenge feels huge.
“We enjoyed the format last year, and the break between the games helped us reset,” he said. “It’s the same this time.
“This is a real test. City is the hardest team to face over two legs in England.
“They always adjust their tactics, even when they’re missing players. But we’re focused on ourselves—what we can do to hurt them.”
Newcastle are missing Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles, and William Osula with injuries. Anthony Elanga is still a doubt.
On the other side, Manchester City arrive unbeaten in their last 12 games since their 2–0 Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen in December. Pep Guardiola’s team are flying high after smashing Exeter City 10–1 in the FA Cup third round. Still, their last trip to St. James’ Park ended in a 2–1 league loss back in November.
Guardiola expects another tough night.
“Since Eddie Howe arrived, Newcastle has been a nightmare to play against,” Guardiola said. “They win so many games late on, the crowd gets loud, and the stadium’s intense. It’s been like this for a while, and honestly, if we’d drawn Arsenal, it would be just as tough.”
City will be without Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, John Stones, and Savinho due to injuries.
PSR SACRIFICE: WHY NEWCASTLE REGRET SELLING HOMETOWN HERO ELLIOT ANDERSON FOR £15 MILLION
Elliot Anderson breaks the silence: Read about his £100m Newcastle return rumours and why Arsenal and Man Utd want the England star.
Elliot Anderson has turned into a regular for England since he left Newcastle United in 2024.
Lately, he’s kept quiet about what comes next at Nottingham Forest, even as rumours swirl about a possible return to Newcastle.
It’s kind of wild to think that less than two years ago, Newcastle let one of their own walk away for £15 million. The club were desperate to avoid a Premier League points deduction because of PSR rules, so they sold Anderson along with Yankuba Minteh just to keep their heads above water.
Now, Anderson’s a completely different player. He’s grown into a solid Premier League midfielder and become a key part of the England squad. People expect him to start for the Three Lions at the World Cup, and he’s got both Manchester clubs and Arsenal watching him closely.
There’s been talk about Newcastle bringing him back, but honestly, that price tag of £100 million is out of reach. NewcastleWorld says that’d eat up almost their entire summer budget.
Back in October, Eddie Howe didn’t hide how much he wanted Anderson back. “From my perspective, I would love him too (return),” Howe said. “I’m very respectful of the fact that he is at another football club, and I would never normally talk about a player in that way, so I won’t change that stance.
“Regrettably, a player from the academy who had given so much… and the club had given so much too, the coaching staff, all those years here, and how people tried to develop those talents, for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.”
As for Anderson, he’s not giving much away about what’s next at Forest. When asked, he said, “I’m just focusing on my football at the moment and performing and trying to give everything for Nottingham Forest. So that’s all that’s on my mind.
“It’s been a big two years. I think I’ve done pretty well, to be honest, in the time I’ve been here, on and off the pitch. I think I’ve matured as a person as well. Thanks to the club, really, for giving me that platform, going out there and playing and letting me do my stuff.
“Obviously, in players’ careers, you never know where you’re going to be. Moving from your hometown is a big step in your career. And it was definitely something that I needed to do, and it has turned out really well. So I was happy I made that step.”
WHY BRUNO GUIMARAES REMAINS NEWCASTLE'S UNTOUCHABLE HEARTBEAT DESPITE MAN UTD RUMORS
Guimaraes to United. Get the report on his recovery in Brazil and the race to replace Casemiro at OT.
Bruno Guimaraes is out with a hamstring injury, but he’s not going anywhere; he’s still all-in for Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Louis Saha has tipped Manchester United to go after Guimaraes this summer.
Even though Guimarães is sidelined right now, he’s become a key player for Newcastle since signing four years ago. He’s helped drive them to Carabao Cup glory and into the Champions League more than once. There were transfer rumours a couple of years back, before he even became captain, but those talks have died down. From what we hear, Guimaraes, now 28, is completely dedicated to Newcastle.
Saha, who actually got his first taste of Premier League football on loan at Newcastle, thinks United should swoop for Guimaraes. He told The Metro, “I’ve always backed Casemiro. He was asked to do too much lately, but now he’s settled and knows his job. He’s shown he’s world-class, and I get why fans want him to stick around. But United need someone aggressive in midfield, someone who can take charge. Players like Tonali and Guimaraes – those guys are beasts in midfield.
“With Mainoo, you need someone next to him who’s got experience and vision, especially with Casemiro eventually going. You need that leadership and directness. That’s tough to replace.
“If you just throw in a young player, it shakes things up. Good for the future, sure, but you need experience now. If Casemiro leaves, I’d love to see Wharton and Guimaraes together. Guimarães brings that captain’s mentality.”
After news of his injury, Guimaraes sent a message to Newcastle fans, promising he’ll come back even stronger. On Instagram, he wrote, “For the first time in my 10-year career, I have to step away from the pitch for a while. I’m really sad about it, but I trust God’s plan.
“This muscle injury will keep me out for a few weeks, but it’s going to make me stronger and get me ready for what’s ahead. Thanks for all the support, the messages, and the concern. See you soon.”
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