Premier League: The Champions League Door is open to Newcastle

Newcastle United vs Leicester City

Monday night football comes to St James’ Park; and there could well be one heck of a celebration on Tyneside as a win will guarantee Newcastle United’s participation in the 2023/24 Champions League.

The Magpies could already be home and dry if Liverpool fail to beat Aston Villa on Saturday, but the Reds are on an impressive winning run so, chances are, Premier League: Newcastle United vs Leicester City will have a whole lot riding on it.

And not just for Eddie Howe’s super Geordies.      

At the start of the 2022/23 campaign there would have been plenty of backers for Leicester City to challenge for European places alongside Newcastle, but the harsh reality of a likely relegation has now hit the Foxes and, arguably, they need the points more than their hosts. Leicester parted company with head coach Brendan Rodgers with ten games to go and Dean Smith took over on the 10^th April, since when this highly talented but grossly underachieving team has picked up five points.

The old adage that there is no such thing as ‘a team too good to go down’ is a haunting spectre over the 2016 Premier League champions.     

Talking Points

One more push for Eddie’s heroes  

The Magpies’ Thursday night clash with Brighton was a good test of Howe’s team’s mentality and they passed it comfortably, sweeping the Europe chasing Seagulls aside with a 4-1 win. Newcastle were totally dominant and took a two goal lead by the break thanks to a goal from Dan Burn and Seniz Undav’s own goal. Brighton pulled one back as Undav scored at the right end but late strikes from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guaimaraes made the points safe.

Wilson has now scored 18 for the campaign and he is sure to lead the line against Leicester, but there is a slight doubt over the fitness of Bruno, who has been nursing an ankle problem, while Joe Willock looks likely to miss out having limped off with a hamstring pull against Brighton.

It’s been a long and tough campaign for the Magpies but they have been resilient whenever they have been asked questions. Now they just need one more push and Newcastle are there.    

How fast can the Foxes run?  

It’s now or never for Leicester City, league champions just seven years ago, FA Cup winners in 2021 and, until this season, regular players in Europe. With stars of the quality of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemens it’s hard to see where they have gone wrong, though the sale of keeper Kasper Schmeichel last summer looks like being a big mistake as the Foxes have lost leadership on the field. Now, with one win in 14 games they need to find some strength and run for their lives. If Everton win at Wolves and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat against Arsenal then Leicester will need to beat Newcastle to stay alive.    

The tame Foxes were savaged by Liverpool on Monday and now they will face their fourth Monday game in a row with a growing injury list. Kelechi Iheanacho and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will face late fitness tests, while Caglar Soyuncu remains sidelined. If Iheanacho doesn’t make the cut the old warhorse Jamie Vardy may make a start and he will have a big influence on his team-mates.      

The Foxes cannot rely on other teams to help them out. Leeds United have a decent chance of getting something at West Ham, while Forest will fancy their chances at home to faltering Arsenal. But the pre match Newcastle United vs Leicester City betting odds reckon this will be an uphill battle for the visitors and they can’t afford to leave anything on the pitch.  

History

These two teams are at the opposite ends of the league table but there’s little to choose between them in terms of head-to-head Newcastle United vs Leicester City results with the Magpies slightly ahead at 16 wins to 14 in the Premier League era.

Howe’s men have beaten Leicester twice already this season, 3-0 in a league game at the KingPower Stadium and 2-0 at home in the EFL Quarter Final in January as Dan Burn scored his first goal for the club and Joelinton wrapped up the victory. 

But with one win, two draws and three defeats from the last six games the Foxes are way behind their hosts in terms of recent form. Newcastle have won four of the last six and are on the cusp of making history.

Betting Tip

Newcastle’s home record of 11 wins, five draws and two defeats won’t give the Foxes much encouragement and, at a SBOTOP price of 1.31 to win, surely the Geordies will be celebrating Champions League qualification. Leicester are priced at 6.18 to win or 5.03 to draw and they need to massively up their game to even get close. 

 

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