Leicester City vs Newcastle United

The stakes are at an all-time high for Leicester City and Newcastle United ahead of their must-win Premier League clash at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City’s return to the second tier has become a matter of time after a 2-0 midweek loss to Manchester City left them 12 points adrift of safety with only eight games to go. A series of poor decisions have led to this point, including the sacking of Steve Cooper earlier in the season. Indeed, his successor, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has lost 14 of his 17 Premier League matches since taking over (W2, D1), including the last seven on the trot without finding the back of the net. Furthermore, the Foxes have suffered seven consecutive home league defeats ‘to nil’ and could become the first team in English top-flight history to lose eight on the spin without scoring on home turf! That’s a distinct possibility, not least because Leicester haven’t scored in any of their last four meetings with Newcastle (D1, L3).

Meanwhile, Newcastle United maintained their uptick in form with a 2-1 midweek victory against Brentford at home, protecting a feel-good factor after winning the League Cup trophy at the expense of Liverpool. However, there’s no margin for error as the Magpies must haul back a three-point deficit on fourth-placed Chelsea to secure a second Champions League qualification in three years. Therefore, the upcoming trip to the Midlands bodes well. Eddie Howe’s charges have emerged victorious from 14 of their last 18 Premier League encounters against newly promoted sides (D3, L1), including six in a row ahead of this clash.