Newcastle United vs Leicester City verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- George Dempsey
- 22 May 2023
Newcastle United need one point to guarantee Champions League football, while a win would make Premier League survival unlikely for Leicester City.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Monday May 22, Kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event
Predicted score
Newcastle United 3-1 Leicester City
Suggested bets
Over 3.5 goals
First half: Over 1.5 goals
Key stats
Newcastle have scored 32 goals in their last 12 matches, netting in both halves on seven occasions.
Newcastle have won the last three meetings of the sides by an aggregate score of 7-1.
Leicester City haven't kept a clean sheet in their previous 21 Premier League matches.
Leicester City have averaged 2.27 goals against per game on their travels this season.
Newcastle United vs Leicester City team news
Emil Krafth (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (calf), Matt Ritchie (knee), Joe Willock (thigh) and Ryan Fraser, who has been deemed surplus to requirements, won't be available for selection.
Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Kieran Trippier are all concerns for Newcastle. Eddie Howe reported the fresh problems on Thursday and who will be fit remains to be seen.
James Justin (calf), Caglay Soyuncu (thigh), Jannik Vestergaard (calf), Ryan Bertrand (fitness) and Danny Ward (finger) are unavailable. Kelechii Iheanacho (groin) and Kiernan-Dewsbury Hall (ankle) could play a part.
Verdict
Newcastle United will secure Champions League football if they can pick up a point against Leicester City on Monday Night Football. The Toon are currently third on 69 points, three clear of Liverpool in fourth.
Visitors Leicester find themselves below Leeds in the bottom three and three points from safety. A draw would take them up a place, but their only realistic route to safety looks like beating Newcastle and then West Ham.
Newcastle bounced back from their slip at Elland Road to emphatically end Brighton's outside chances of a top-four finish. Goals from Undav (OG), Burn, Wilson and Guimares did the damage.
The Foxes have been streaky all season but their form has deserted them at the worst possible time. A 5-3 loss to Fulham and a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool have severely their chances of survival.
The pressure is on Leicester to win on Monday and visit St James Park, that's not a nice situation to be in. Anything less than a win leaves Everton in pole position to survive on the final day.
The main concern for Dean Smith would have been to patch up the leaky defence and give themselves a chance in games, but this group of players just don't seem to have it in them.
The visitors have conceded in 21 consecutive Premier League matches, allowing two or more in 13 of those. There's little evidence they can keep Newcastle at bay for even a half.
The hosts have a quicker turnaround and some injury concerns, but they should be on cloud nine after their win over Brighton. Although a point will secure the top four, they'll want all three.
Their goalscoring form will be of great concern to Leicester. The Magpies have found the net 32 times in a 12-game run, scoring in both halves on seven occasions.
Not only have Leicester conceded in both halves of their last three matches, but they've also leaked seven first-half goals in their last three away matches.
Newcastle look a good bet to wrap up their Champions League qualification in style, condemning Leicester in the process. If the hosts score early, they could run away with it.
