Manchester City 'continue to be the benchmark' but Newcastle United hopeful of avenging 'painful defeats' - Eddie Howe

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Manchester City host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Magpies boss Eddie Howe has emphasised his admiration for Pep Guardiola's side, who will be looking to close the gap to leaders Arsenal, but claimed his men have learned from "painful defeats" and are hopeful of leaving Etihad Stadium with a positive result.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Eddie Howe says Manchester City remain "the benchmark" for Newcastle United ahead of their Premier League clash on Saturday.

The Magpies have struggled at Etihad Stadium in the recent past, losing 3-1 there in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this month.

Newcastle lost away to City 4-0 in the Premier League last year, though they beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-1 at St James' Park in November.

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And Howe revealed his team have learnt from the previous meetings ahead of their latest clash - which will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with pre-game coverage from 19:00 UK time.

"Genuinely, I think we learn something more about ourselves and our game going forward every time we play them," the Newcastle boss said in his pre-match press conference.

"They have been the benchmark for a number of years for many teams. Each painful defeat we suffer at the Etihad we try to grow from it, evolve and improve.

"They have been very, very good and are led by an outstanding manager. They continue to be the benchmark, in my opinion.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"Every time we've played there, I think we've made mistakes big enough to cost us the game. We've been in the games, they've been competitive, but they have been too good for us on a number of occasions, and we need to bridge that gap this weekend.

"Every team you play is beatable. That gives us hope [that we have beaten them before] and the evidence is there that we can win the game.

"We have to do everything right, tactically, physically. We've done it before and if we turn up we know we can do it."

Newcastle have enjoyed an upturn in form of late after a difficult period, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in north London to end a run of three successive Premier League defeats, before a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup and a 6-1 drubbing of Qarabag in their UEFA Champions League play-off.

The long midweek trip to Azerbaijan may have taken it out of Newcastle's players, though Howe highlighted the importance of three straight away wins.

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"It was a late night for us, roughly a 4am return, actually maybe a bit later," he said. "So sleep was an issue, but I think a good night's rest for them last night and another sleep to go, so hopefully by the time the game comes around we'll be okay.

"Hopefully a lot of positives come out of the last few away wins. Three tough games in their own right, but the performances have been really good, and the individual performances have been a lot stronger. Collectively, we've been much better."

Howe also reserved praise for Anthony Gordon, who scored four goals against Qarabag to take his Champions League tally for the season to 10, bettered only by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe.

"I was delighted with his performance," Howe added. "Great thing for him [to score 10 Champions League goals].

"Sometimes these things happen in one competition, and I'm sure he'll want more goals in other competitions.

"But the Champions League has certainly got the best out of him and long may it continue."

How to watch Manchester City v Newcastle United

Manchester City v Newcastle United will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.

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For the latest information on which football matches are on TNT Sports, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide. And for the full Premier League schedule, click here.

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