Afternoon all. Well, after an incident-packed Saturday, the Premier League returns today with two matches, the first of which will be covering right here between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park.

The team news from Tyneside has just been released so without further ado, let's bring you that. We will start with the home side...

NEWCASTLE XI: Krul; Santon, S Taylor, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa; Anita, Tiote, Cabaye; Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Haidara, Gosling, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Cisse

It's the usual 4-3-3 formation for Newcastle, with Loic Remy spearheading the attack alongside Yoan Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko. There are changes at the back, though, with Steven Taylor coming in at centre-back, while Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa slots in at full-back. There is still not a place for Hatem Ben Arfa, who has to settle for a place among the substitutes.

And now for the visitors...

MAN CITY XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko

MAN CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Garcia, Milner, Navas

In the continued absence of the injured Sergio Aguero, Manuel Pellegrini has kept faith with Edin Dzeko, who will partner Alvaro Negredo up front. The most positive news for City, though, is the fact that midfielder Yaya Toure has overcome an ankle injury to start. Also returning from a stint on the sidelines is centre-back Martin Demichelis, while Spanish winger Jesus Navas is on the bench.

One name that is striking among the Newcastle lineup is that of defender Taylor. He has not started since these two sides met on the opening day of the season. On that occasion, the centre-back was poor to say the least and summed up his performance by getting sent off in just the 45th minute. City went on to win the match 4-0, with goals from David Silva, Samir Nasri, Toure and Aguero.

The two sides also met in October in the Capital One Cup, with City coming out on top 2-0 after extra-time. This time around Negredo and Dzeko scored the goals. So, from the two matches this term, it's 6-0 to City on aggregate. Surely it cannot get worse for the Magpies, can it?!

To be honest, though, recent history doesn't favour Newcastle. City have won the last nine encounters between the teams. What's more, Newcastle have not overcome the visitors since Michael Owen scored the only goal of the game back in 2005 - that's a run of 15 matches, with City winning 13 of them.

Looking to extend his side's positive record against Newcastle, Pellegrini has just been talking to Sky Sports News. Here's some of what he had to say: "The most important target is to win now. I don't think we are favourites to win this game - every away game is difficult. We played against Newcastle here in the Capital One Cup and it was very hard. We hope that we will play very well.

Sorry to keep the negative news coming for Newcastle fans, but director of football Joe Kinnear has admitted that the club may not be overly active during the ongoing transfer window. Writing in the programme, Kinnear revealed:

"Given the business we did last January and with the addition of Loic Remy in the summer, it is our belief that we now have a squad that, in terms of quality and quantity, is stronger than we had in the season we finished fifth, and should enable the manager to deal with every reasonable eventuality," the director of football said.

"If the right player becomes available for the right price and we are sure he can improve on what we have in the squad, then we may do business."

Do Newcastle need reinforcements, though? From one to 11, they have a strong side, without doubt. However, a quick scout at their bench suggests that they could do with a boost. Aside from Ben Arfa, there is not much on the bench today that you feel could come on and change the game. If they are to sustain their decent start to the campaign, an extra option or two could be crucial.

Someone that Newcastle will be looking to keep hold of this month is Yohan Cabaye. Speaking to Sky Sports News just now, manager Pardew admitted that he is hoping for a "big game" from the Frenchman today: "It's difficult because [City] are in magnificent form. We need to be strong mentally. Cabaye, although he has got the number four on his back, he will play in the number 10 role today. We are hoping that he has a big game.

Discussing his side's chances of picking up a positive result, Pardew added: "We never a free hit - we want to win every game. It's a game for us to approach with the mentally that we want to show our fans that we are up for the game and have enough quality to win. You've got to have a calmness about you to bring that quality through. I'd like to think that the wins against Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham have helped."

If Newcastle are to collect a decent result, they are going to have to somehow shackle Toure. The Ivorian midfielder has scored 10 goals already this season, which is a greater return than he has managed in any other of his Premier League campaigns. And guess which team he has scored the most goals against since joining from Barcelona in 2010? That's right, Newcastle! He's found the net against the home side five times in total.

The players are now out on the pitch and the handshakes are about to take place. Not long now until we are off and running at St James' Park.

GAME ON! Here we go then - Man City, attacking from left to right during the first half, get this contest started.

First meaningful attack from Newcastle and it is Sissoko that looks lively. His attempted cross rebounds back to him off Kompany and he the Frenchman goes for a spectacular volley. The volley is always against him, though, and the ball flies well over the crossbar. Bright start from the hosts nevertheless.

That looked so easy for City, who lead 1-0. Gouffran switches off from his defensive duties, which allows Silva to play a pass in behind him for an advancing Kolarov. The full-back in turn sends over a low cross for Dzeko, who fires his 13th goal of the season into roof of the net. Simple but highly impressive football from the favourites for the title.

CHANCE! City go ever so close to doubling their advantage, with Kolarov again causing problems. This time his cross is about pure power as it flashes across the Newcastle goal. Negredo slides in, but his timing is just a fraction out and he fails to make contact. If City score again, that could well be game over already. Newcastle need to weather this storm.

CHANCE! It's chance after chance for City right now. This time it's Nasri that is the provider as he floats over a cross from the left flank. Negredo peels away from his marker, but his header from 12 yards out lands on the roof of the net rather than it. They are playing very well here - right now it only looks a matter of time before they score again.

As for Newcastle, they are struggling to keep hold of the ball, let alone carve out any opportunities. We've barely seen anything from Cabaye, who as Pardew admitted before this match, is the key player for his team. They need to get him in possession more often.

That's a bit better from Newcastle, as Cabaye runs into the City area unmarked. He's spotted by Gouffran, but his lofted cross is overhit and the ball bounces out of play. The effort is appreciated by the supporters, though, who have been quiet for a large part of this match.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has just told BBC Sport: "Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov is a real problem for Newcastle." He really is and right now the home side cannot deal with him. The winger, be it Gouffran or Sissoko, must track back more often to help out Yanga-Mbiwa.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Newcastle are fuming and by today's rules, you can understand why. Tiote just fired in a stunning goal from 20 yards out and St James' Park erupts. The City players immediately appeal for offside, with replays showing that three Newcastle players were beyond the City rearguard. However, none of them were in Joe Hart's eyesight and not one of the three hampered his ability to dive, therefore they were not interfering with play. Boos ring out around the ground.

As former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has just said on Twitter:

Don't think Joe Hart gets that. Regardless of Gouffran. Harsh — Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) January 12, 2014

BOOKING! Newcastle are struggling to shake off that disappointment. Cabaye has just been cautioned for something that he said to referee Mike Jones. The home side must regain their composure because the last thing that they need is to go down to 10 men.

BOOKING! It's now 1-1, but only in terms of yellow cards. Man City's Fernandinho is the player cautioned for a needless challenge on Taylor just inside the City half.

BOOKING! "1-0 to the referee" is the chant coming from the home faithful. By the way, there has just been confirmation that Newcastle's Sissoko was booked earlier in the match for kicking the ball away. Also going into the book is City defender Pablo Zabaleta for a mistimed challenge on Sissoko. Two apiece where bookings are concerned now as two minutes of stoppage time is shown by the fourth official.

Jeers ring out, aimed at referee Jones, as the players walk off at the break. Pardew approaches the official and tells him that he was wrong to disallow that goal. What an entertaining half that turned out to be!

Well, where do you start if you're Newcastle? First and foremost, they haven't performed well and that is something that Pardew will need to drum into his players. They've been wasteful in possession and are now feeling sorry for themselves after having that goal chalked off. It's important, as difficult as it may be, that the home players let that go. Towards the end of that half they picked up a couple of bookings as things threatened to boil over. The last thing that they need is to take on City with 10 men.

As for City, they played some fantastic football during the opening 20 minutes or so and could have scored another goal or two. Since then they've defended well and haven't really been threatened, aside from the goal that was disallowed. They will be hoping that Newcastle fail to shake off their disappointment. The first 15 minutes after the restart will be vitally important.

Of course, we can't ignore that decision from the officials which has rubbed off Tiote's stunning goal. It appears that the linesman didn't flag for offside, having judged that Gouffran wasn't impeding Hart. However, following a consultation with referee Jones, the goal was disallowed. Under the current rules, that's a poor decision, it must be said. To be honest, there was no real reason for Jones to hold a discussion with his assistant.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The boos continue as Newcastle restart this match.

SAVE! Positive start from the home side as Vurnon Anita cuts out Fernandinho's pass and then drives the ball goalwards from the edge of the area. Hart sees it all the way, though, and is able to get down in time and hold at the first attempt. Moments later, Tiote goes into the book for tripping up Toure.

What an opportunity for Remy, who has been clinical for large parts of this campaign. He's put through on goal, but seems to opt against having a shot with his left foot. Instead, he looks to turn inside, but his route is blocked by a retreating Vincent Kompany. Had the Frenchman had more confidence, he would almost of certainly had forced Hart into action.

SUBSTITUTION: The first change of the clash is made by City and surprisingly it's the goalscorer Dzeko that exits the action. Perhaps he has picked up a knock because he doesn't looked too disappointed to have been replaced so early in this half. On in his place is Navas.

CHANCE! Nice work from Navas and Nasri down the right frees the former of the duo, who picks out Negredo inside the area. He spins on the spot to fashion out a shooting chance for himself, but his effort from close range has too much height on it and the ball ends up flying over the target.

SAVE! What has Negredo got to do to score here?! He uses brute force to get beyond Taylor to meet Silva's cross, but his powerful downward header is blocked by the body of Newcastle keeper Tim Krul. All of a sudden City are starting to create a lot of chances.

SAVE! Now it's Hart's turn to do some meaningful work as he throws himself to his right to turn away Cabaye's powerful strike from 25 yards out. The resultant corner is easily cleared by the visitors.

SUBSTITUTION: Another switch for City and it's Toure that is leaving the field, in pain as well. Perhaps he hasn't fully recovered from that ankle problem. He's been replaced by Javi Garcia. Moments later, Cabaye sees an effort from distance punched clear by Hart.

Kompany is having a very good game for City - they really are a different side when he is fit and available. Particularly during this second half he's made numerous challenges and clearances to alleviate some of the pressure on his team.

SAVE! It's a huge chance for Remy, but Hart comes up trumps for City. For once Kompany makes an error as he collides with his teammate Zabaleta. That leaves the Newcastle frontman through one-on-one with Hart, but the England number one sticks out a boot to turn away the danger. That was Newcastle's best opportunity of the match.

SAVE! Up the other end, another fantastic cross from Kolarov is met by Nasri 10 yards from goal. The French international hits it on the half-volley, but the ball sails into Krul's hands. Either side of the Newcastle keeper and City could well have had their second goal of the afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a positive change from Pardew, who takes off a midfielder in Antia and throws on a striker in Papiss Cisse. It should mean that Cabaye will drop back into a slightly deeper midfield role alongside Tiote.

BOOKING! That is the most obvious yellow card of the lot for Yanga-Mbiwa, who hacks out at Nasri twice before bringing the City midfielder down. Other referees could well have sent off the Newcastle defender because he made no attempt to play the ball.

SUBSTITUTION: And that challenge has ended Nasri's involvement. He could also be out for a long time because he seems to be in a lot of pain, clutching his knee in agony. Having seen the replay, damage to his knee ligament is not beyond the realms of possibility. What a poor challenge that was from Yanga-Mbwia. On comes James Milner in his place.

SUBSTITUTIONS: A double alteration for Newcastle as Ben Arfa and Massadio Haidara enter the action. They have replaced Gouffran and Yanga-Mbwia, who was lucky to still be on the pitch after that tackle on Nasri.

OFF THE BAR! After a bit of pinball inside the Newcastle box, the ball is cleared only as far as Navas. His cross is met by Fernandinho, who sees his looping header crash against the crossbar, with Negredo wildly lashing over the rebound. That would have been game over, but Newcastle live to fight another day.

CHANCE! Negredo must be out of ideas now! Silva plays him in and having committed Krul off his line, the City striker rolls the ball underneath him. A goal looks inevitable, but Taylor gets goal-side of his keeper and he is able to clear the danger.

A big cheers goes up around St James' Park because seven minutes of stoppage time have been shown by the fourth official. That will largely be because of the injury that Nasri sustained.

At every opportunity now, Newcastle are pumping the ball into the City area. They've thrown Williamson and Taylor forward and the latter looks as though he is about to draw his team level, only for Kolarov to slide in at the final moment to clear. Three minutes left.

And that is what can happen when you have to commit so many men forward. Milner threads a pass through for Negredo, who is through to face Krul. The Newcastle keeper does well to block the first effort, but the ball falls kindly for the City frontman who has the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. That's his 19th goal of the season and seals the three points for his side.

More boos are aimed at the referee at the final whistle, but City will not care one jot because they have gone to the top of the Premier League, while Newcastle remain eighth.

That's all we have time for from St James' Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.