“I had to google chiton, and apparently it is a marine mollusc,” says Richard Hirst. “Why does the MBM have one, and why is it unavailable? Did you accidentally eat it with your chips? We need to know.”
Don’t they have a thousand eyes, or am I guilty of casual molluscism again?
Alexander Isak talks to Sky Sports
"Obviously winning 8-0 should give us some kind of confidence..." 😅
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 27, 2023
Alexander Isak with his pre-match thoughts ahead of facing Manchester City 💭 pic.twitter.com/h8KfiHGl5Q
There are nine Carabao Cup ties tonight, quite a few of them mouth-moistening. All are 7.45pm kick-offs except our game, which begins at 8pm.
Aston Villa v Everton
Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City
AFC Bournemouth v Stoke City
Brentford v Arsenal
Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham v Norwich City
Lincoln City v West Ham United
Liverpool v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Manchester City
The MBM chiton is unavailable, so the best way to keep up to date with the other games is via our live scores page.
Newcastle make 10 changes, Manchester City eight, and if you think I’m listing them all you’ve got another thing coming. The survivors from the weekend’s action are Nick Pope, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Julian Alvarez.
The Newcastle team includes a couple of teenages Lewises making their full debuts: Miley, aged 17, and Hall, 19.
The young Norwegian attacker Oscar Bobb makes his full debut for City, while Jack Grealish starts for the first time in a month. No idea what City’s formation is, but I reckon Pep knows.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Livramento, Lascelles, Dummett, Targett; L Miley, Tonali, Hall; Murphy, Isak, Joelinton.
Substitutes: Karius, Trippier, Schar, Gordon, Ritchie, Manquillo, Almiron, Anderson, Bruno Guimaraes.
Man City (possible 4-2-3-1) Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Phillips, Kovacic; Bobb, Gomez, Grealish; Alvarez.
Substitutes: Ederson, Carson, Walker, Dias, Haaland, Doku, Nunes, Foden, Hamilton.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Newcastle United v Manchester City at St James’ Park. The challenge is to get through tonight without using the phrase “sportswashing derby”. We’ve failed already, but at least we get it over with. Now we’ll digest our food better.
When two Big clubs meet in the early rounds of a domestic competition, it rarely stirs the blood. You know one or probably both will play hybrid teams, and there’s a fair chance one or both won’t be devastated if they lose. And although both managers will make multiple changes tonight, it still feels like a Big game. OK, Quite Big.
Newcastle have unfinished business with the Carabao Cup, having lost last year’s final, and with trophies generally. Manchester City have ongoing business with the Carabao Cup, having won it five times in the last eight seasons, and with trophies generally. Never mind the Treble; the Sextuple is at stake tonight.
Kick off 8pm.