Newcastle vs Leicester Preview: Team News & Prediction
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There is pressure on both of these teams coming into this game at St James’ Park but it is arguably Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men who are in better shape
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 14th December, 2024: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock Premium
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Premier League
Newcastle Preview: Pressure on Howe
Newcastle are coming off a highly disappointing 4-2 loss at Brentford last week and while Thomas Frank’s men have an outstanding record at home, it was a major blow to Eddie Howe and his team. That extends their winless run to four matches as they continue to flounder in the bottom half of the table.
Leicester Preview: Ruud enjoying honeymoon period
The change in manager has clearly made a difference at Leicester so far as Ruud van Nistelrooy is enjoying a mini honeymoon period since replacing Steve Cooper. Leicester have beaten West Ham and salvaged a miraculous point against Brighton last time out as they fought back from 0-2 with two goals in the last five minutes. Van Nistelrooy is clearly getting a reaction from the players even if there remain question marks over the quality they possess especially in defence.
Newcastle Team News: Change in goal may be required
The major news coming out of the club this week is another injury to Callum Wilson who is out for a couple of months with a hamstring problem. The Magpies could also be without goalkeeper Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka is primed to take his place if needed.
Eddie Howe rotated last weekend after a busy spell but one would fully expect him to bring Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and potentially others back into the starting line-up to shake things up.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton
Unavailable: Botman (Injured), Lascelles (Injured), Krafth (Injured), Wilson (Injured)
Questionable: Pope (Injured), Willock (Injured)
Leicester Team News: Two key midfielders absent
Leicester are forced into at least one change as Boubakary Soumare is ruled out through suspension while they are also without Wilfred Ndidi who has picked up an injury. That means a new central midfield partnership is needed so Oliver Skipp will come in and they will likely give a late fitness test to Harry Winks to see if he can return from his own knock.
Van Nistelrooy is unlikely to make many other changes given how well they have performed for him so far but he is juggling a lengthy list of absentees right now.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Hermansen; Faes, Coady, Vestergaard; Justin, Choudhury, Skipp, Thomas; Buonanotte, Vardy, Mavididi
Unavailable: Stolarczyk (Injured), Pereira (Injured), Soumare (Suspended), Ndidi (Injured), Fatawu (Injured)
Questionable: Winks (Injured), Edouard (Fitness)
Newcastle vs Leicester Prediction
There are some question marks over Newcastle and Eddie Howe right now given their disappointing form and mediocre start to the season. Toon legend Alan Shearer rightly called out the attitude of some of the players after the loss to Brentford and there are rumblings of discontent in and around the club right now.
The urgency will likely be firmly on their side coming into this one and Leicester are not helped by some key absentees. The loss of Soumare and Ndidi in midfield will not help their fragile defence and they continue to ship goals at an alarming rate.
So much depends on how up for this game Newcastle really are. They are winless in four and so many of their players are out of form. That said, the home fans will demand a performance here and they will likely get it as a reaction to their abysmal display at Brentford last week.
We fully expect Newcastle to come out firing on all cylinders and with Leicester so poor defensively, they should win this comfortably.
Newcastle vs Leicester Tip: Newcastle to win with -1 handicap
