London: The two-week international break provided no respite for Manchester City from the saga involving Carlos Tevez.
The last two unbeaten records in the English Premier League go on the line when City host third-place Newcastle on Saturday, and the leaders must ensure they aren't distracted by the striker's dispute with the club.
Tevez flew to Argentina during the international break despite City expecting him to stay in England to train. The club has already fined and suspended him for an act of disobedience during a Champions League match.
"As a team, we just keep moving forward," City winger James Milner said. "There always seem to be things going on off the field at Manchester City and people wanting to knock you down with distractions. All we can do is concentrate on what we're there to do, and that's play football and work hard in training."
After 11 matches, Newcastle and City are the only teams yet to be beaten in the Premier League. But while City have embarked on the biggest spending spree in world football in recent years, Newcastle have been offloading star players to help cut their debt.
Newcastle will discover whether their unexpected start to the season is a fluke or a sign the team can maintain a credible push for Champions League qualification.
"They have started the season very well," Milner said. "I don't think many people expected it because there have been a lot of changes up there. But all credit to them; they're playing really well."
But the harmony at Newcastle was disrupted during the international break by owner Mike Ashley announcing that their 119-year-old stadium, St. James' Park, was being renamed as Sports Direct Arena, the sports retail company owned by Ashley.
"For the traditionalists amongst our fans, I think it's something they are upset at," manager Alan Pardew said in his first public comments on the row. "But it is still in the same place and it's still the Gallowgate End and we still have your tradition of walking to the stadium from the centre of town. It's there where it is.
"On the other side of the coin, of course, commercially, it will attract a big sponsor, we hope, and give us extra revenue to go forward."
If Newcastle do inflict City's first loss of the season, Manchester United will go two points behind their neighbour with a victory over Swansea.
The south Wales club has collected 11 points from 33 since gaining promotion to the Premier League for the first time.
"It's a new experience for us all. They're the first Welsh team in the Premier League and going there will be a great experience," United midfielder Darren Fletcher said. "Swansea have been applauded for the football they've played this season. When I was on international duty, I spoke to a couple of my Scotland team-mates who have played against them and they told me how well Swansea keep the ball."
In Sunday's only match, fourth-place Chelsea host Liverpool, who are three points behind in sixth after a mixed start to the season.
Liverpool have been rocked by striker Luis Suarez being charged on Wednesday by the Football Association with racially insulting United's Patrice Evra after a month-long investigation.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Suarez became the first Uruguay player to score four goals in an international in a 2014 World Cup qualifying victory over Chile last week.
"That will not have done his confidence any harm whatsoever," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "It's great for Luis to get four goals — I wish it was for us rather than his country. Maybe he's kept some up his sleeve for us in the coming weeks.
"He is a fantastic footballer and has been, as we have said, fantastic ever since he has come here and we are just fortunate to have him."
Fifth-place Tottenham will hope to have manager Harry Redknapp back in charge for Monday's match against Aston Villa after more than two weeks of recovery from heart surgery.
"It will depend on his conversation with the medical people who are giving him advice," Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan said. "He's feeling good and sounds good. There's a possibility he'd be back for the Villa game and maybe he'll pop in during the lead up to that match. He's very keen and is optimistic there's a chance of that happening."
In Saturday's other matches, Arsenal are at Norwich, Everton host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke take on Queens Park Rangers, Fulham are at Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion face Bolton and Blackburn visit Wigan.
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