Newcastle United, despite trailing Manchester City in the Premier League standings, has been acknowledged by Pep Guardiola as one of City’s competitors. Guardiola’s recognition of Newcastle as a rival comes despite a significant 16-point difference in their league positions.

While City currently sits five places above Newcastle, who have been plagued by injuries, Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, expressed determination to narrow this gap. Newcastle’s performance last season, finishing in the top four, adds to the competitive edge between the two teams, with their recent encounters being closely contested, often decided by a single goal.

Guardiola’s perspective highlights the shifting dynamics since he took charge in 2016, with Newcastle now firmly established in the Premier League. He mentioned Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Newcastle as perennial rivals for City.

Beyond on-field performance, Newcastle faces a substantial challenge off the pitch. While City boasts record-breaking revenues of £712.8m, Newcastle’s turnover of £250.3m pales in comparison, despite a 39% increase last season. Howe acknowledged the financial limitations affecting Newcastle’s growth, suggesting it might take longer than anticipated for the club to reach its desired level of competitiveness.

In recent years, only a few teams have managed to consistently challenge for titles in the face of City’s dominance, with Liverpool being the primary disruptor. Even legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged the formidable task for outsiders to break City and Liverpool’s stranglehold on the Premier League.