Man City Look to Finish Newcastle Off in EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg

Manchester City will look to put Newcastle to bed in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at the Etihad on Wednesday night, carrying a healthy 2-0 advantage from their St James' Park victory. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki secured that first-leg buffer, leaving Pep Guardiola's side in the driving seat.

Newcastle come to Manchester as the competition's defending champions, having ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by beating Liverpool in last season's final. City, meanwhile, last claimed this prize in 2021 – their eighth EFL Cup triumph, a tally only Liverpool's ten have surpassed.

Yet both clubs arrive in stuttering form. City dropped points for the fifth occasion in six Premier League matches when they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Tottenham, leaving them six points adrift of Arsenal. Newcastle's plight looks grimmer: just one win in their last six games across all competitions, compounded by a 4-1 hammering away to Liverpool at the weekend.

Team News

City's injury list remains troublesome. Ruben Dias has returned to training following a hamstring problem but won't be risked here. Josko Gvardiol and John Stones remain sidelined, while Marc Guehi – signed from Crystal Palace after the first leg – cannot play. Max Alleyne is expected to partner Abdukodir Khusanov in defence.

Rayan Cherki took a heavy knock against Tottenham but should be available. Jeremy Doku and Savinho are both unavailable, while Mateo Kovacic remains a long-term absentee following ankle surgery in early November. James Trafford, who has featured in all domestic cup ties this season, looks set for the nod over Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.

Newcastle face their own mounting absences. Bruno Guimaraes is battling an ankle injury sustained against PSV Eindhoven and looks unlikely to feature. Joelinton has joined him in the treatment room with a groin issue requiring an injection. Lewis Miley won't be available due to a knee problem, though Sven Botman has returned to training after a thigh complaint.

Tino Livramento won't return for another four weeks with a hamstring injury, Fabian Schar faces extended time out with ankle ligament damage, and Emil Krafth remains sidelined with a knee problem. Newcastle started without a striker against Liverpool, but their attacking needs should prompt Yoane Wissa's return to the lineup.

The Numbers

History heavily favours City. Only two of the 32 teams to win the first leg away in an EFL Cup semi-final have been eliminated – West Ham in 1971-72 and Tottenham in 1986-87. Newcastle would become just the second side to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit to reach the final, after Aston Villa managed it against Tranmere in 1993-94.

Guardiola's record at the Etihad against Newcastle since summer 2016 is frankly ridiculous: nine wins from nine, with an aggregate score of 26-2. The City boss has also won ten, drawn one and lost one of his 12 home EFL Cup games.

Newcastle haven't scored at the Etihad since DeAndre Yedlin's effort in a 2-1 defeat in September 2018. Their last win there came in the fourth round of this competition in 2014-15. This season in away games across all competitions, they've managed just three wins from 16 outings, drawing six and losing seven.

Should City progress, they'll become just the fourth team to reach a tenth EFL Cup final, joining Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Narrative

Despite their recent stumbles in the league, City sit comfortably in this tie and should seal the job at home. Newcastle, however, must come out swinging if they're to retain their trophy – and their attacking trio possesses the pace to trouble City's backline.

Antoine Semenyo has made an impressive start to his City tenure following his £62.5million move from Bournemouth in January. The forward was among the scorers in the first leg and will fancy another contribution.

For Newcastle, Anthony Gordon has created more chances than any teammate in this competition this season, and his pace could prove useful in mounting a comeback bid.