Event of the Day: Newcastle United v Manchester City

Our event of the day is the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James’ Park in Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle United are 15th in the table with 18 points from 19 games, while Manchester City are league leaders with a comfortable 12-point lead over their city rivals Manchester United as well as a game in hand, midway through the campaign. The Magpies ended a terrible winless run of eight defeats in nine matches with the encouraging 3-2 win away to West Ham on Saturday.

However today they face a ruthless Man City side that has dropped only two points in the league so far, and is on an incredible run of 17 straight victories – the best ever first half to a Premiership season. Their last triumph was a 4-0 win against Bournemouth at home on Saturday. Newcastle have won only three points against City in their last 19 league fixtures – no wins, three draws and 16 losses. Manchester City’s top goal scorer this season with 12 goals, Sergio Aguero, has scored nine goals in the last five league encounters with Newcastle United. The visitors are playing some absolutely scintillating football, with three players – Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Leroy Sané – leading the league on assists, each of them has eight so far. The hosts are enjoying a run of good form from Ghanaian midfielder Christian Atsu who scored and provided an assist in the vital win against West Ham. It should be an exciting game at St. James’ Park this evening.

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA duel between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Toronto Raptors at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Raptor DeMar DeRozan is having an excellent season and has just been awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the week award, for the Thunder, Russell Westbrook is in fine form with a dominant display against the Houston Rockets in the last game. In other NBA action, the Minnesota Timberwolves await the Denver Nuggets at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

In the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets face off at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, and the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden in New York. It’s day 2 of the fourth Test match of the 2017-18 Ashes series between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the Big Bash League, the Brisbane Heat play the Sydney Thunder at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. The PDC World Darts Championship continues at Alexandra Palace in London. In college football, it is the Independence Bowl between Florida State and Southern Miss at the Independence Stadium in Shreveport In Louisiana.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

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Photos by Premier League

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