After Manchester City were crowned 2020/21 Premier League champions earlier this week, Newcastle would have hoped Pep Guardiola's side might take their foot off the pedal.
After all, the Citizens are in their first ever Champions League final later this month and optimistic Magpies supporters will hope they preserve their best players for that occasion.
But if we have learned anything from Guardiola's five seasons at the helm in Manchester, it is that he and his team are serial winners and there are always records to pursue and achievements to chase.
And, as such, City head to Tyneside on the cusp of creating more history as a win at St James' Park would be their 12th consecutive Premier League away win which would be an all-time record across the top four tiers of English football.
Newcastle head into the contest in good form, though, having lost just two of their last 10 games and will hope to extend their decent recent record against the champions, having lost just one of their last four meetings at home.
However, it would be only the second win in their last 21 matches against the current Premier League leaders and any attempt to halt Manchester City creating more history will have to be done without top goalscorer Callum Wilson, who misses the game through injury.
Nonetheless, City will also be without their star man, Kevin De Bruyne, ahead of Friday evening's 8pm kick-off.
