Newcastle United vs Leicester City preview, predictions & possible XIs
Newcastle United will look to get back to winning ways when they host Leicester City on New Year’s Day.
The Magpies have lost three of their last four Premier League matches, including going down 4-1 and 2-1 to Manchester United and Everton in their previous two fixtures.
They face a Leicester side only just back on track themselves, with Brendan Rodgers’ men recording a 2-1 win away at West Ham last time out, having lost to Manchester City and Liverpool before that, conceding seven goals in the process.
Will Steve Bruce kick a new decade off in style or can the Foxes tighten their grip on second place? Read on for our preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Newcastle vs Leicester and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: St James’ Park
Date: Wednesday, 01 January 2020
Kick-off: 3:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport
Last five meetings: Newcastle vs Leicester
29 Sep 2019: Leicester 5-0 Newcastle (Premier League)
28 Aug 2019: Newcastle 1-1 Leicester (League Cup)
12 Apr 2019: Leicester 0-1 Newcastle (Premier League)
29 Sep 2018: Newcastle 0-2 Leicester (Premier League)
07 Apr 2018: Leicester 1-2 Newcastle (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Newcastle (LDWLW) 4-9 Leicester (WDLWL)
Ones to watch
Newcastle: Miguel Almiron
Miguel Almiron’s effect on the Newcastle team has been hugely underrated but now that he’s finally off the mark with both goals and assists, we should start seeing far more output in terms of cold, hard stats.
The Paraguay international offers the Magpies plenty of pace and thurst in behind opposition defences and if he can continue to strike up an understanding with the likes of Andy Carroll and Joelinton, Bruce might just have his perfect outlet up top to fit his direct gameplan.
Key stat: Almiron has made eight fast breaks in the Premier League this season, at least four more than any other Newcastle player.
Leicester: Jamie Vardy
Vardy is the Premier League‘s top goalscorer but drew a blank in the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, missed the win at West Ham and has scored just once in his last four appearances across all competitions.
If Leicester are to break down a resolute Newcastle side, the former England international will be need to bring his A-game and alert to any balls in behind.
Key stat: No Premier League player has scored more goals than Jamie Vardy (17) this season.
Team news
Newcastle
Jamaal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin both remain sidelined for Newcastle, Bruce faces serious doubts over the fitness of Ciaran Clark, Fabian Schar, Florian Lejeune, Joelinton, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett and Ki Sung-yueng.
Predicted XI: Dubravka; Schar, Fernandez, Schar; Yedlin, Hayden, Shelvey, S. Longstaff, Willems; Almiron; Carroll.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Leicester
Matty James remains a long-term absentee, while the only other issue for Rodgers is the fitness of Ricardo Pereira, who is struggling with a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy.
Squawka prediction
Newcastle’s form has once again dipped over the festive period and with a host of players potentially sidelined for the visit of Leicester, Bruce’s men will do well to take anything from this one.
The Foxes have recovered from back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Man City and will certainly be looking to tighten their stranglehold on second.