Newcastle United meet Leicester City at St James’ Park in a decisive Premier League clash, with implications at both ends of the table.
At least one point would guarantee third-placed Newcastle a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, whilst Leicester can climb out of the relegation zone and into 17th with a win to put survival into their own hands on the final day.
Team News
Newcastle manager – Eddie Howe could rotate his squad following Thursday’s win against Brighton, with Kieran Trippier and Joelinton amongst players who could be rested due to fatigue.
Joe Willock (hamstring), Sean Longstaff (foot) and Jacob Murphy (groin) are doubts for this game, although Willock could be sidelined for the remainder of the season depending upon medical results.
Jamaal Lascelles (calf), Ryan Fraser (personal), Emil Krafth and Matt Ritchie (both knee) remain absent.
Leicester could be without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after he missed their home defeat against Liverpool with an ankle injury.
Danny Ward (finger) and Caglar Soyuncu (hamstring) are ruled out.
Ryan Bertrand (knee), Jannik Vestergaard (calf), Kelechi Iheanacho (adductor) and James Justin (Achilles) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Leicester at the City Ground in a 8:00pm BST kick-off on Monday 22 May, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have won three of their last seven league meetings against Leicester (W3, L4).
- Leicester have won five of their last six league visits to Newcastle (W5, L1).
- Newcastle’s Joelinton has scored in each of his two appearances against Leicester in all competitions this season (W2), with the Magpies keeping clean sheets in both wins.
- Howe’s Magpies have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league matches (W9, D3, L4).
- No Leicester player has lost more aerial battles this season than Jamie Vardy, who has failed to win 70 of his 113 aerial battles in 35 appearances.
Prediction
Needing just one point to guarantee Champions League football next season, I am expecting Newcastle to come out and try to achieve that feat with a win especially after how they clinically blew Brighton apart on Thursday with a feel-good attacking energy.
Even when they conceded from two goals up early in the second-half, Newcastle knew how to confidently control the game whilst two late strikes underlines how hard-working and progressive this team have become compared to last season.
Leicester meanwhile know that they can put survival in their own hands going into the final day with a win, which can’t be ruled out given their league form away to Newcastle but they must come out and play their best football yet of this season and ideally score first to do so.
Howe’s Magpies though will be super motivated for this game and if they play with the same quality which dispatched Brighton, I can see them comfortably getting on top of Leicester’s crumbly defence in the same manner as Liverpool managed and secure Champions League football with a game to spare.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Leicester
Result: Newcastle 0-0 Leicester