Leicester City welcome Newcastle United to the King Power Stadium in this weekend’s only Super Sunday clash in the Premier League.
One point is all that Leicester need to reclaim third place whilst Newcastle can climb out of the relegation zone with a point of their own.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Maddison is a major doubt for Leicester City with an ankle injury picked up in training.
Matty James and Daniel Amartey remain ruled out with respective calf and ankle injuries.
Newcastle could have DeAndre Yedlin available for the first time this season, after the American had groin surgery in the summer before suffering a setback just before the opening weekend.
Sean Longstaff could also return from an ankle injury alongside Allan Saint-Maximin who has recovered from a thigh injury, whilst Matt Ritchie (ankle) and Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) are close to making their returns but won’t be considered this weekend.
Dwight Gayle (calf) and Florian Lejeune (knee) both remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Form
Leicester have lost just one of their eight domestic matches in all competitions, although Tuesday’s 4-0 Carabao Cup win marked the first time that they kept a clean sheet since their goalless draw with Wolves on the opening weekend.
Newcastle are unbeaten in three of their last four league games but last weekend’s goalless draw with Brighton ended a four match scoring run in all competitions.
Stat Attack
- Leicester have won three of their last five meetings with Newcastle in all competitions (W3, L2), although all three wins didn’t come at home.
- The last three opening goals in meetings between these teams have all come in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
- Only two of eight Premier League meetings since Leicester’s return in the 2014-15 season has seen both teams score, with both occasions coming in the 2017-18 season.
- Leicester’s Youri Tielesman has played six through balls this season, a joint league high alongside Jorginho of Chelsea.
- Newcastle have only produced 61 shots in six games, which is the third lowest total, with only Norwich and Sheffield United producing less shots.
Prediction
Leicester have been quietly impressive so far despite their defensive fragilities but they need to step up their performances now, if want to mount a strong top four challenge going forwards.
Newcastle meanwhile are doing a solid job in comparison to last season’s slow start but need to find extra sharpness in attack if are to start scoring more than once in games, which could be important come May in terms of goal difference.
I am therefore expecting a tough match because Newcastle has the better defence but Leicester are superior in attack with their variety, which makes this a difficult prediction but the Foxes should have enough to nick this.
Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Newcastle United
Result: Leicester City 5-0 Newcastle United