Howe believes Newcastle disadvantaged by home first leg against Man City

Eddie Howe wants Newcastle United to harness the experience of last year’s EFL Cup semi-final triumph over Arsenal when they host Manchester City on Tuesday, though he would have preferred to have home advantage in the second leg.

The EFL Cup holders will face City over two legs for the right to defend their trophy at Wembley Stadium on March 22, against either Arsenal or Chelsea.

Having also finished as runners-up in the competition under Howe in 2022-23, Newcastle have progressed from all three of their EFL Cup semi-final ties, the best 100% record in the competition’s history.

Meanwhile, the holders have only fallen at this stage of the competition twice before – Tottenham in 1971-72 and Blackburn Rovers in 2002-03.

At this stage last term, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored to guide the Magpies to a huge 2-0 first-leg victory at the Emirates Stadium, before Jacob Murphy and Gordon struck in the home leg, another 2-0 success for Howe’s men.

However, since 2021-22, when Chelsea and Liverpool both reached the final after playing the first leg of their semi-final ties at home, only Liverpool in 2023-24 (versus Fulham) have won an EFL Cup last-four tie when hosting the first leg. Five of the last six semi-final ties, then, have been won by teams playing at home second.

Howe told reporters on Monday: “The natural preference is for the home game to be the second leg, just because you have a clear understanding of what you need to do and you have the home crowd behind you, but it’s not like that this time.

“We need to use the home crowd to our advantage in the first game and try to do everything to try and impose ourselves on the tie.

“We really enjoyed the two-legged semi-final format last year. This is going to be a totally different challenge, though.

“City are the hardest team in the country to play over two legs. Pep [Guardiola] will have something ready for us tactically and we will have to be at our best to get through.”

The Semi-Finals await…#EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/65YB1ZDY2b

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) January 9, 2026

Newcastle had to get through 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out to keep their FA Cup hopes alive on Saturday, overcoming Bournemouth on spot-kicks following a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park.

The Magpies lost Tino Livramento to injury in that match, further depleting Howe’s options, but he says their ability to strengthen their squad this month remains limited.

“Regarding transfers, everybody is fully supportive. I think the problem for us is PSR – I don’t think there is any issue with anyone saying we can’t do this and we can’t do that,” Howe said.

“It’s more about what we can do, not what we can’t do. The key thing for us to consider is business now versus business in the summer.

“It’s value for money now, value for money in the summer, and signing the right player. If you sign the wrong player, you are carrying that for a three-, four- or five-year contract.

“Are the right players available in January? There is a lot to discuss and a lot to consider for our short-term needs against the long-term decisions of the football club.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Newcastle United – Yoane Wissa

After an injury-affected start to his time at Newcastle, Wissa finally scored his first goal for the club in the previous round of the EFL Cup, in a 2-1 victory over Fulham.

Wissa, who also netted against Burnley in Newcastle’s final Premier League game of 2025, has scored five goals in his last six EFL Cup starts, dating back to his time with Brentford.

Manchester City – Rayan Cherki

Cherki has been involved in three goals in his two EFL Cup games (two goals, one assist), with no player remaining in the competition being involved in more this term.

The Frenchman scored a long-range piledriver to help guide City past Brentford in the last eight, and his Premier League performances have also been excellent.

Cherki has averaged 3.42 chances created per 90 minutes in the top flight this season, just ahead of Bruno Fernandes (3.28) for the most by any player to have played at least 270 minutes.

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

Newcastle have won each of their last nine matches in the EFL Cup and are looking to stretch that winning streak to double figures here.

Excluding penalty shoot-out wins, only Liverpool (11 between 1994-1995) and Arsenal (10 between 1987-1988) have ever enjoyed longer winning streaks in the competition.

And Newcastle have already beaten City 2-1 in the Premier League this season – they have not beaten them twice in the same campaign since 1983-84.

The Magpies have also won their last two EFL Cup ties against the Citizens – 2-0 in October 2014 and 1-0 in September 2023.

However, City have knocked out the EFL Cup holders the last two times they have faced them, beating Birmingham City 2-0 in September 2011 and Liverpool 3-2 in December 2022.

And they have progressed from each of their last six EFL Cup semi-final ties, going on to win the trophy each time. They last fell at this stage in 2011-12, against eventual winners Liverpool. A positive result on Tyneside would see them put one foot in the final.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Newcastle United – 32.9%

Manchester City – 41.6%

Draw – 25.5%