Good evening and welcome to Eurosport’s LIVE commentary of Newcastle United and Manchester City. A home victory would lift Rafa Benitez’s side out of the bottom three on goal difference and put a huge question mark over Manchester City’s top four credentials. An interesting night to follow! The team news is coming your way in a moment.

TEN MINUTES TO KICK-OFF! As mentioned earlier, Newcastle do not like playing City. Michael Owen scored the only goal the last time Newcastle beat City, back in the 2005-06 season. City have since won 16 games from 18, drawing two. They have scored an incredible 23 times in the last six meetings, conceding only one.

Sergio Aguero arriving at St James's Park earlier.

For Newcastle to have any chance of stopping Manchester City, they simply have to contain Sergio Aguero. The Argentine has scored 10 goals in just eight Premier League appearances against Newcastle United. His tally of 10 goals is the joint-most he has against any opponent in his Premier League career (along with Tottenham).

NEWCASTLE'S DANGERMAN: Andros Townsend has been involved in four goals in his past three Premier League games (two goals, two assists). He has already set up as many Premier League goals for Newcastle (two) in eight appearances as he did for Spurs in 50.

While Manchester City’s objective this season is to ultimately lift the Champions League, they would like to claim a top-four spot in the league as insurance and three points tonight would lift them seven points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United. Manuel Pellegrini is hoping his side an build on their recent good form which continued with an impressive 3-0 reverse at Chelsea at the weekend. Prior to kick-off, the boss said:

“I hope we can continue playing the same way we did last Saturday, being an aggressive team and trying to win from the beginning. If we continue playing that way it doesn't matter against who we play but we know we have a difficult game. They need all the points to try not to be relegated."

Of course, statistics don’t mean a thing, especially at this stage of the season. Newcastle are fighting for their Premier League lives and should take confidence from a huge victory over Swansea City on Saturday. Manager Rafa Benitez believes his side have a slight advantage over their opponents this evening. Here’s what he said:

“I think they have an eye on the Champions League and hopefully we can take advantage. In the back of your head you are thinking about a semi-final or a final and if you are going to get an injury. They are professionals and they will try to win but in the back of their mind they won't want to miss a game through injury."

PRE-MATCH STAT! Newcastle United have won none of the last 18 Premier League meetings against Manchester City (D2 L16), losing the last 12 in a row. If the visitors win they'll equal the record of consecutive Premier League wins against a specific opponent (13 - Manchester United against Wigan Athletic).

Vincent Kompany returns to the Manchester City defence tonight. The Belgian international had missed the past month with a succession of calf-related problems. Fernando replaces Fernandinho in midfield and Fabian Delph comes in for the injured Samri Nasri.

Just the one change for Newcastle as Ayoze Perez replaces Georginio Wijnaldum in the starting eleven. The Spanish forward has six goals so far this season and spearheads the attack in a 4-2-3-1 system. Defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Daryl Janmaat remain injured.