Man City's clash with Newcastle represents a battle of the big-spenders
Another weekend of Premier League action is upon us, and one of the standout fixtures comes on Saturday night when defending champions Manchester City host Newcastle.
City are still riding the crest of a wave after winning the Treble last season, and they added another piece of silverware to their ever-growing trophy cabinet on Wednesday by lifting the UEFA Super Cup after beating Sevilla on penalties.
But if there's one team that can stop them, it may be Newcastle.
Two years ago, Newcastle were a club in crisis and looked destined for relegation. The fans had turned on manager Steve Bruce and were desperate for owner Mike Ashley to leave.
Finally, in October 2021, they got their wish. Ashley sold the club to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Bruce left his position just days later. The club have not looked back since.
When reflecting on what has changed over the past two years, one obvious factor stands out - money.
Newcastle can now match the spending power of City, and this has helped them significantly in their rise out of the bottom three and back into Europe.
Under their Saudi-backed owners, the Magpies have spent upwards of £350m, bringing in the likes of Aleksandar Isak, Sven Botman and Sandro Tonali.
This has allowed them to dine at the top table again, providing the platform to get back into the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
Yet another factor in Newcastle's transformation simply cannot be overlooked - the man in the dugout.
Eddie Howe was not the name on everyone's lips when Newcastle were searching for a replacement for Bruce.
Indeed, he was not the owners' first-choice, as they initially approached Unai Emery only to be knocked back.
Their scepticism of Howe was understandable given he
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