The quest for Wembley glory resumes tonight, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, as the defending champions Newcastle United host Manchester City in the first leg of their EFL Cup Semi-Final. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT at a rocking St. James' Park.
After ending their 70-year major trophy drought in this very competition last season, Eddie Howe’s Magpies are looking to make history by reaching back-to-back finals. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side is desperate to reclaim a trophy they dominated for nearly a decade but haven't touched since 2021.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) – Semi-Final, First Leg
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 23:00 local (EAT)
Venue: St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (VAR: Stuart Attwell)
Broadcast: Sky Sports Main Event (UK), ITV 1 (UK), ESPN+ (US)
The Storyline: Defensive Champions vs. An Attacking Juggernaut
Newcastle: The "Cup Specialist" Mentality
Newcastle is building a formidable reputation in knockout football. They enter this tie on a 13-match unbeaten streak at home, including a 2-1 win over Man City in the Premier League just two months ago. However, the Magpies have been pushed to the limit recently, needing a marathon penalty shootout to overcome Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday. Eddie Howe has called on the "Gallowgate roar" to help his tired squad secure an advantage to take to the Etihad for the second leg in February.
Manchester City: High-Octane Momentum
City arrives on Tyneside fresh off a historic 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup, their joint-biggest win in club history. While they have stuttered slightly in the league with three recent draws, their cup form has been perfect. The spotlight will be on new £60m signing Antoine Semenyo, who marked his debut with a goal and assist on Saturday. Guardiola is expected to recall his heavy hitters, including Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, to ensure they don't leave the North East empty-handed.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Newcastle United Team News
Injury Crisis: The Magpies are decimated at the back. Dan Burn, Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, and Tino Livramento are all sidelined.
Attacking Threat: Harvey Barnes is the man to watch, having scored four goals in his last two home appearances, including a brace against City in November.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimarães, Joelinton; Gordon, Wissa, Barnes.
Manchester City Team News
Defensive Shuffling: City is missing the core of their defense with Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Josko Gvardiol all out. Youngster Max Alleyne may keep his place after scoring against Exeter.
Absentees: Mateo Kovacic, Savinho, and Oscar Bobb are ruled out.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O'Reilly; Rodri; Cherki, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Recent History: Newcastle beat City 2-1 at St. James' Park in November 2025.
Home Comforts: Newcastle has won 11 of their last 13 matches at home across all competitions.
The "Ten-Goal" Factor: City's 10 goals against Exeter on Saturday was the first time a top-flight English team scored double figures in a domestic cup match in over 30 years.
Referee Record: Chris Kavanagh has officiated City 15 times; they have won nine of those matches.
Tactical Analysis: Energy vs. Precision
Eddie Howe knows that playing a high-intensity press against City over 180 minutes is a gamble. Newcastle will likely look to use the pace of Anthony Gordon and the clinical finishing of Harvey Barnes on the break. City, meanwhile, will aim to exploit Newcastle's makeshift defense. With Rayan Cherki and Tijani Reijnders pulling the strings, they will look to feed Erling Haaland early to silence the home crowd.
Match Prediction
Given both teams' recent high-scoring games and defensive absences, we expect a thrilling encounter. Newcastle's home form is elite, but City's depth might be enough to see them secure a draw and leave the tie perfectly balanced for the return leg.
Final Score Prediction: Newcastle United 2–2 Manchester City
