Newcastle United vs Manchester City Prediction 13.01.2026 | Carabao Cup

The Carabao Cup was a source of immense joy for Newcastle United last season, as the Magpies finally lifted a piece of major silverware following a masterful 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the final — their first trophy in nearly six decades.

Now, Newcastle find themselves just two matches away from a return to the iconic Wembley, but an imposing obstacle stands in their path in the form of Guardiola’s juggernaut. Nevertheless, their formidable record at St James’ Park — unbeaten in 13 consecutive matches, with 11 wins — remains a key advantage and a beacon of hope against Manchester City.

While the Tyneside outfit can boast impressive firepower in the final third, scoring three or more goals in three of their last four victories, cracks have appeared at the back, with exactly three goals conceded across their last two games — a worrying sign considering the attacking threat they will face at home.

Manager Eddie Howe will also have to contend with a number of key absences. Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, William Osula, and Dan Burn are all sidelined with injuries, while Fabian Schär will miss the first leg due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

For Manchester City, the Carabao Cup has long served as something of a personal playground under Pep Guardiola, with the team establishing themselves as serial winners of the competition. This season, the Citizens will be desperate to reclaim the trophy and add it back to their growing collection.

Since the turn of the new year, City have had little to celebrate, enduring a frustrating start to 2026 with draws in their first three Premier League fixtures against Sunderland, Chelsea, and Brighton. However, they quickly regained momentum with a commanding 10-1 victory over Exeter in the opening round of the FA Cup.

As they prepare for a tough away test, Manchester City can take confidence from their recent road form, remaining unbeaten in their last five away outings across all competitions and claiming victory in four of them — including an impressive 2-1 triumph over Real Madrid in their most recent UEFA Champions League encounter.

Guardiola will be without several key figures, most notably in defence, as Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones are all sidelined through injury. This has forced the manager to explore alternative defensive options during the January transfer window.