Pep Guardiola’s Man City side will get the all familiar guard of honour treatment on Friday when they walk out onto the pitch for the first time as newly crowned Premier League champions.
City have dominated the Premier League since November, winning 22 of their 27 games since defeat against Tottenham.
With the league wrapped up and the Champions League final to come in just over two weeks’ time, key players are unlikely to be risked for the remaining three league games.
The biggest of those is Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian missing last week’s defeat to Chelsea due to a minor knock.
City played a three-man defence in that clash, but are likely to revert back to their usual four. Nathan Ake could keep his place alongside Aymeric Laporte, allowing Ruben Dias to take a step back.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo should take up the full-back positions, while Fernandinho could come back into the midfield.
Further forward, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva should join the midfield having both started the Chelsea clash from the bench, with Silva going unused.
Sergio Aguero took a disastrous penalty in that defeat and could be dropped for the trip to St. James’ Park – though not necessarily as a result of the failed Panenka spot kick – in favour of Gabriel Jesus.
Phil Foden has continued to receive plaudits for what has been his most involved and most productive season of senior football and should be rewarded with a spot in the coronation queue.
Rounding out the side could be Riyad Mahrez, who was also unused against Chelsea, recognising a brilliant back half of the season that sees him sitting on five goals and three assists in his last 10 games for club and country.
The Algerian hasn’t actually played in the Premier League for nearly a month, being prioritised for the Champions League semi-finals against PSG – and to good effect – scoring three of City’s four goals across the two legs.
City’s champagne moment can finally take off, but they would be forgiven for already having one eye on the Estadio do Dragao at the end of the month.
Man City starting XI versus Newcastle
