Newcastle right back on track after World Cup break?
No breather for the English Premier League players after the World Cup. Just one week after the World Cup final, the traditional Boxing Day is already upon us in England. Even if the break was short, the motherland of football does not want to do without the old football tradition of games on Boxing Day. Two teams in good form before the World Cup break will meet in the East Midlands.
A Leicester vs Newcastle tip is therefore anything but easy. Even the last meetings between the two teams always found a different winner – only a draw was rare in the past duels. The decisive factor in this match will be who finds his way back into the league after the long break. However, Boxing Day matches have not really been to the liking of either team in recent years – the last Christmas Day victory for both teams was years ago.
Both coaches would have loved to have done without the break given their team’s formidable run before the World Cup interruption. A real favourite therefore does not emerge before this encounter, even if the best bookmakers slightly favour the “Magpies”. The few test matches between the two teams during the World Cup break were also not necessarily informative for a Leicester vs Newcastle prediction. Both teams also mastered their compulsory task in the League Cup during the week with aplomb.
Leicester – Statistics & current form
The 2016 English sensational champions had a difficult start to the season, but Brendan Rodgers’ side, who will take their place on the bench for the 300th time in a Premier League game in the upcoming home fixture, have caught themselves as the season has progressed. Before the long World Cup break, “The Foxes” won four of their last five league games, although they did not do so against a top team during this period. Nevertheless, the form curve of Rodgers’ eleven is pointing strongly upwards. Nevertheless, Leicester are only in 13th place in the table before their re-start in the English top flight due to their poor start to the season – only four points ahead of the relegation zone. In Newcastle, Leicester face a strong opponent who have also won three of their last five duels at the King Power Stadium.
Only two home wins in seven games
As major reason for the lower ranking than in previous years is that Leicester have only won two of their seven games so far in front of their home crowd. The victories were also against Leeds and Nottingham Forest, teams that are placed even lower in the table. That’s why you can find high odds on Leicester against Newcastle for Rodgers’ side to win three points. Boxing Day, like that of their upcoming opponents, is not the Foxes’ favourite matchday either. Since promotion in 2014, Leicester have won only one of their eight Boxing Day games. However, it is encouraging that Leicester have won nine of their past 13 games against the “Magpies”.
But even this record has changed since the billion-euro takeover of Newcastle United – Newcastle have won two of the past three Premier League duels. And the team from the north of England is also the stronger side in this match – which is why the Leicester vs Newcastle tip goes as a draw no-bet bet on the Howe eleven. With a win, Leicester could win three games in a row in England’s top flight for the first time since January 2021, but this is likely to be very difficult due to their own home weakness and a very strong Newcastle this season. One advantage could be that Newcastle have to find their rhythm again after the long break, but that also applies to Rodgers’ team. Pereira and Bertrand will also be missing against Newcastle.
Predicted Leicester line-up:
Ward, Amartey, Faes, Söyüncü, Castagne, Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans, Justin, Maddison, Vardy, Barnes
Last matches played by Leicester:
Carabao Cup
21/12/2022 – Milton Keynes Dons 0 – 3 Leicester
Club Friendlies
10/12/2022 – Leicester 0 – 0 Troyes
Premier League
12/11/2022 – West Ham 0 – 2 Leicester
Carabao Cup
09/11/2022 – Leicester 3 – 0 Newport
Premier League
06/11/2022 – Everton 0 – 2 Leicester
Newcastle – Statistics & current form
Newcastle United will be taken over by a consortium around Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund – this news hit like a bomb even in England, where such takeovers are not uncommon. The club from the north of England had more financial power at its disposal than any of its competitors in the already rich Premier League. The teams from the top six in particular felt threatened that the “Magpies” would be able to break their phalanx in the next few years and be regularly placed among the top teams in the English Premier League.
And their fears were quite justified. After a completely messed-up pre-season with only one win, Newcastle ended up in third place in the second half of the season, not least due to numerous reinforcements in the winter. This summer, too, Newcastle made further additions to their squad – although they did not spend sums of money that would cause a sensation in England. But coach Eddie Howe knew how to strengthen his team selectively and without signing the really big superstars. With the signings of Isak, Botman and Targett, however, his team has once again gained in quality.
Only one defeat so far this season
And the success proves him right again this season. From many good individual players he has formed a collective that is very difficult to beat. In the whole season there has only been one defeat so far, in the difficult away game at Liverpool. For Leicester against Newcastle, the odds once again point to the Magpies as favourites. However, the upcoming opponents are also in strong form and Boxing Day has rarely been crowned with success for the team from the north of England in recent years. The Howe eleven lost the last six encounters at Christmas.
But of course, the Newcastle of the last few years can no longer be compared to the current team. So it would not come as a surprise if this series also comes to an end next Monday. A defeat of the strong Newcastle eleven at the home-weak Leicester is not necessarily likely, especially since Newcastle is enormously difficult to beat this season. Our Leicester vs. Newcastle prediction is therefore that the “Magpies” will take at least a point from Leicester. The only one missing next Monday will be Krafth.
Predicted Newcastle line-up:
Pope, Burn, Botman, Schär, Trippier, Willock, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton, Wilson, Almiron
Last matches played by Newcastle:
Carabao Cup
21/12/2022 – Newcastle 1 – 0 Bournemouth
Club Friendlies
17/12/2022 – Newcastle 2 – 1 Rayo Vallecano
08/12/2022 – Al Hilal 0 – 5 Newcastle
Premier League
13/11/2022 – Newcastle 1 – 0 Chelsea FC
Carabao Cup
10/11/2022 – Newcastle (3)0 – 0(2) Crystal Palace
Leicester – Newcastle Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The two sides have faced each other a total of 130 times so far. Newcastle have won 54 times, the Foxes have won 48 and they have drawn 27. The goal difference, however, is in Leicester’s favour with 208:198 goals. The away record of the “Magpies” at Leicester City in English Premier League matches does not look exactly rosy either. Newcastle have won just 11 of their 44 league games at the King Power Stadium, with Eddie Howe’s side going down 4-0 here last season.
Leicester – Newcastle Tip
Two in-form teams meet at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day. Newcastle have been convincing in away games this season, both offensively and with a strong defensive line. The upswing of the “Foxes” can mainly be explained by a huge improvement in the defensive area. While goalkeeper Ward conceded 22 goals in the first seven games, he has conceded only three in the last eight. Six times he even made zero saves. Therefore, it will not be easy for the strong offensive line of the “Magpies” next Monday. Nevertheless, Newcastle are the stronger team this season – which is why the Leicester vs Newcastle prediction goes in the direction of the team from the north of England.
Although both teams have their strengths in the defensive area, both teams have regularly banged things up in their last encounters. More than two goals have been scored in each of the last six meetings. Boxing Day is traditionally one of the highest-scoring matchdays in England, so it’s possible the bells will be ringing again this Christmas.
