Will the Magpies advance to the semi-finals?
While Newcastle United are on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2002/03 season, 13th-placed Leicester City have
only two points clear of the first relegation spot. Consequently, the only way for the Foxes to reach Europe is to win the EFL Cup. However, several factors speak for tip 1 for Newcastle against Leicester
After all, it was just a fortnight ago when both teams faced each other in league action on Boxing Day. On that occasion, the Magpies celebrated a convincing 3-0 away win at the King Power Stadium, which now influences our prediction for Newcastle against Leicester. Overall, the north-easterners have won three of their last four duels with the Foxes.
While Newcastle were embarrassed 2-1 by third division Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Magpies’ home record, in particular, clearly suggests that the current third-placed team in the Premier League will make it to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. Newcastle have remained unbeaten in eleven competitive matches so far in the 2022/23 season (six wins, five draws).
Accordingly, we see a lot of value in betting on a home win for the Magpies, who are up against Foxes who are weak away from home. Only Southampton have lost more often in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season (seven times) than Leicester City (six out of nine away games).
Newcastle – Statistics & current form
Newcastle United have already celebrated several great successes – including four English championships as well as six overall victories in the FA Cup. However, the often ridiculed EFL Cup, which teams like Luton Town, Oxford United and Swindon Town have already lifted into the air, is still missing from the Magpies’ collection.
The declared goal of Eddie Howe’s team, which has considerable financial resources since the takeover of the club by a consortium led by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund, is to reach the Champions League. But taking the EFL Cup along the way would certainly be a first small stage victory in the project launched in October 2021.
The best defence in the Premier League
Although the Magpies had to go to penalties against Crystal Palace in the third round at their own stadium in November, which they won 3-2. However, they did not concede too many goals and conceded only one in the competition on their way to the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
In addition, the team from the north-east of England was also convincing in the Premier League. In 18 league games, Newcastle United have conceded just eleven goals, making them by far the best defensive team in England’s top division. In the past nine league games, they have conceded just two goals in total.
Still unbeaten at home in 2022/23 season
The betting odds on Newcastle against Leicester are heavily in favour of Eddie Howe’s side, who have been virtually unstoppable at home to St James’ Park. Newcastle are unbeaten in eleven games at home in the 2022/23 season (six wins, five draws).
Combined with the recent 3-0 away win at Leicester City, the EFL Cup quarter-final against the Foxes is almost a must-win.
Predicted Newcastle line-up:
Pope – Burn – Botman – Schär – Trippier – Willock – Guimaraes – Longstaff – Joelinton – Almirón – Wilson
Last matches played by Newcastle:
FA Cup
08/01/2023 – Sheffield Wednesday 2 – 1 Newcastle
Premier League
04/01/2023 – Arsenal FC 0 – 0 Newcastle
31/12/2022 – Newcastle 0 – 0 Leeds
26/12/2022 – Leicester 0 – 3 Newcastle
Carabao Cup
21/12/2022 – Newcastle 1 – 0 Bournemouth
Leicester – Statistics & current form
Leicester City advanced to a serious force in English football in the recent past. Not only did the Foxes celebrate the overall victory in the Premier League in 2016, but they also won the FA Cup for the first time five years later in the summer of 2021.
Because the team from the East Midlands won the Community Shield shortly afterwards, Leicester City is one of the clubs that have already won all four national titles in England. In the EFL Cup, the team from the county of Leicestershire already has three overall victories on record (1964, 1997 and 2000).
Just two points clear of a relegation place
There’s a lot wrong with the Foxes at the moment, however, as they finished eighth in pre-season and failed to qualify for another European competition, and are currently looking down rather than up. With only a two-point lead over the first relegation place, the top priority at the moment is to stay in the league.
However, the EFL Cup could be a backdoor to Europe for the East Midlands side, which is why it can be assumed that Leicester will play this match with the necessary seriousness.
The second most away defeats in the Premier League
But with the Foxes having just lost 3-0 to the Magpies on Boxing Day, the odds on Newcastle progressing against Leicester are very poor for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Leicester’s negative streak in the Premier League (three defeats in a row) is compounded by their general weakness away from home. The Foxes have already suffered six defeats from nine away games in the league. Only Southampton have lost more away from home (seven from nine).
Predicted Leicester line-up:
Ward – Thomas – Faes – Amartey – Castagne – Soumaré – Ndidi – Barnes – Tielemans – Pérez – Vardy
Last matches played by Leicester:
FA Cup
07/01/2023 – Gillingham 0 – 1 Leicester
Premier League
04/01/2023 – Leicester 0 – 1 Fulham
31/12/2022 – Liverpool FC 2 – 1 Leicester
26/12/2022 – Leicester 0 – 3 Newcastle
Carabao Cup
21/12/2022 – Milton Keynes Dons 0 – 3 Leicester
Newcastle – Leicester Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 56 – 27 – 49
There have been a total of 132 meetings between the two teams so far and Newcastle United lead the direct comparison with 56 victories. The clash has also been in the hands of the Magpies of late, who have won three of their last four games against Leicester City – including the 3-0 away win on Boxing Day a fortnight ago.
Newcastle – Leicester Tip
Following the Magpies’ emphatic 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium a fortnight ago, the prediction now also clearly goes in the direction of the north-easterners in the EFL Cup quarter-final between Newcastle and Leicester. After all, the Foxes, who have lost six of their nine away games in the Premier League, arrive in poor form and short of substitutes, which further diminishes the chances of a turnaround at the current third-placed team in the table.
Adding to this is the Magpies’ impressive home record, having not lost at home in eleven competitive matches in the 2022/23 season (six wins, five draws). Accordingly, there is no alternative to betting on a home victory for the Howe eleven.
