Newcastle United travel to King Power Stadium on Monday night with high ambitions, while Leicester City look to end a disastrous run that may soon seal their Premier League fate.
Leicester’s Plight Continues in a Painful Premier League Return
Leicester City’s comeback to the top flight has turned into a nightmare. With only one league victory in 2025—a rare 2-1 win over Tottenham back in February—the Foxes have lost their last eight matches across all competitions. Sitting 19th in the table with just 17 points from 30 matches, they are 15 points behind safety. With only eight games left, relegation seems inevitable unless a miraculous turnaround occurs.
Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s tenure is under increasing scrutiny, particularly after the exclusion of Harry Winks, reportedly due to internal disagreements. The team lacks creativity in midfield, and their inability to score—only 3 goals in their last 5 games—further compounds their crisis.
Newcastle Eyeing Champions League Push After Trophy Glory
Unlike their hosts, Newcastle United are on an upward trajectory. Having ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought just before the international break, the Magpies resumed Premier League action with a narrow but vital 2-1 win over Brentford. Now, Eddie Howe’s side are targeting a third consecutive league win as they aim to close the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League football.
A win on Monday would lift Newcastle to fifth, putting pressure on the teams above them. With only a seven-goal difference separating them from Chelsea, they’ll be eager not only to secure three points but also to boost their goal tally.
Head-to-Head: Newcastle Dominance Over Leicester
Recent meetings strongly favor the visitors. In the last five encounters, Newcastle have won four, including a dominant 4-0 victory in December 2024. Leicester haven’t beaten the Magpies since May 2021, highlighting the clear gap in form and quality between the sides.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Leicester remain without long-term absentee Abdul Fatawu, while Odsonne Edouard and Harry Souttar are also sidelined. Jamie Vardy is expected to start up front, although his influence has waned this season.
Leicester predicted XI (4-3-3): Hermansen; Thomas, Faes, Okoli, Justin; Ndidi, Soumare, Kristiansen; El Khannouss, Ayew, Vardy.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have injury issues of their own. Alexander Isak, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions, picked up a knock midweek but is likely to feature. Kieran Trippier remains doubtful, while Anthony Gordon may return from a hip injury. Botman, Lascelles, and Lewis Hall are all out.
Newcastle predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Prediction and Analysis: Magpies Too Strong for Downbeat Foxes
Given the form book, squad morale, and recent performances, Newcastle are overwhelming favorites. With Leicester’s defensive vulnerabilities and Newcastle’s attacking variety, it’s hard to see the Foxes holding firm. Isak’s potential return adds further firepower.
Predicted score: Leicester 1-3 Newcastle
Newcastle’s pace and directness in wide areas may cause all sorts of problems for a Leicester defense that has conceded 11 goals in their last 3 games. With the Magpies fighting for European qualification and Leicester running out of hope, the stakes couldn’t be more different.
Do you think Leicester can pull off a shock win, or will Newcastle keep marching towards Europe?