Newcastle vs. Leicester: preview and betting tips

The third team in the Premier League table, Newcastle, are embarking on an adventure through the League Cup after finishing in the FA Cup. What to expect from its confrontation with the struggling Foxes and what to bet on?

Newcastle have been considerably more complacent so far. It extracted five points from the post-Christmas rounds, including a draw with Arsenal, but then fell to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup. They are third in the league table but only two points above fifth placed Tottenham.

After Christmas, Leicester did not follow up their decent performances from the pre-World Cup games and with three losses they are back in the fight for relegation. They beat Gillingham in the FA Cup on Saturday with a slender 1-0 win. They are two points above relegation in the league table.

Newcastle’s key figures

The home side have relied on goals from Miguel Almirón, with the Paraguayan right winger scoring nine times and assisting once. The entire defence is in form, led by the reliable Kieran Trippier and stopper Sven Botman.

Leicester’s key figures

Despite only playing half of the possible minutes this season, James Maddison is undoubtedly dragging the Foxes with a 7+4 record. He should be medically fit for Tuesday. Winger Harvey Barnes has split the net six times.

Although Newcastle have the league’s best defence and kept a clean sheet against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, on the other hand, it hasn’t really burned since Christmas. He has scored more than once in only one of his last five games.

The same is true of Leicester, who have scored just twice in their last four games after scoring one goal each. With 31 goals conceded, it also has the fourth worst defensive record in the league after Southampton, Nottingham and Bournemouth.

Considering Newcastle’s offensive floundering, the projected rotation of both teams’ squads, and the (in)importance of the League Cup, we can predict that Leicester will not lose on Magpies’ soil in regulation time.

Sources: Premier League, Newcastle United