Leicester travel to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, and we’ve got the latest in regards to team news and predicted lineups, as well as a score prediction alongside our preview.
Newcastle vs Leicester Preview
Out of form Newcastle United welcome Ruud van Nistelrooy and his Leicester City side to St. James’ Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, looking to bring an end to their four-game winless run.
Last time out, the Magpies suffered a bitterly disappointing 4-2 defeat away at Brentford, with draws against Liverpool and Crystal Palace, as well as a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham, making up the remainder of their poor run.
Eddie Howe’s side have dropped down to 12th place in the English top-flight table with recent results, on 20 points after 15 games, seven points adrift of the top four. Meanwhile, Leicester are six points behind them in 16th place, five points clear of Ipswich and Wolves in the relegation zone.
Best in the business 🧤 pic.twitter.com/W6szWXnlXL
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 12, 2024
The Foxes are unbeaten in two since Van Nistelrooy’s arrival in the Midlands, with the Dutchman masterminding a 3-1 win over West Ham in his first game, followed by a 2-2 draw against Brighton last time out.
Leicester trailed by two goals against the Seagulls with less than five minutes of normal time remaining in that one, but goals from Jamie Vardy and Bobby Decordova-Reid in the 86th and 91st minutes secured a crucial point late on.
Newcastle and Leicester last faced off during the 2022/23 season. They met on three occasions that term, with the Magpies prevailing twice with 3-0 and 2-0 scorelines, and the third ended in a goalless stalemate.
Newcastle Team News
Howe remains without the injured Callum Wilson (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder) and Sven Botman (knee), while Nick Pope (knee) is expected to miss out after twisting his knee against Brentford.
Joe Willock is also a doubt after missing last weekend’s game with a ‘very minor’ hamstring issue.
Leicester Team News
As for the Foxes, they are without defensive midfield pairing Wilfred Ndidi (thigh) and Boubakary Soumare (suspended), as well as Issahaku Fatawu (knee), Ricardo Pereira (thigh) and Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle).
Harry Winks is also a major doubt due to a groin issue, while Odsonne Edouard and Facundo Buonanotte should make their returns to the matchday squad.
Newcastle vs Leicester Predicted Lineups
Newcastle Predicted Lineup:
Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Gordon, Isak, Barnes
Leicester Predicted Lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Choudhury, Skipp; El Khannouss, Buonanotte, McAteer; Vardy
Newcastle vs Leicester Prediction
Despite their poor form as of late, as well as Leicester’s unbeaten start under Van Nistelrooy, we at SportsCasting are backing Newcastle to get back to winning ways at home.
The Magpies are heavily favoured to claim all three points among the UK’s best football betting sites, and with the visitors being without key midfielders Soumare and Ndidi, we expect the hosts to do just that.
Alexander Isak, who has a goal in each of his last two games, should cause plenty of problems for the visitors, and so should his supporting wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Leicester
