Football
Newcastle United vs Leicester City Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
An inconsistent Newcastle welcomes a Leicester side playing with a new lease on life, Ruud van Nistelrooy will be hoping his side is able to continue their fine run of form when they travel to St James’ Park on Saturday evening. SportsBoom breaks down everything you need to know for betting on this Premier League match.
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Magpies Strong Favourites
Home: 8/25 (1.32) – 74%
Draw: 5/1 (6.0) – 15%
Away: 36/5 (8.4) – 11%
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (Premier League)
22/05/2023: Newcastle 0–0 Leicester
26/12/2022: Leicester 0–3 Newcastle
17/04/2022: Newcastle 2–1 Leicester
12/12/2021: Leicester 4–0 Newcastle
07/05/2021: Leicester 2–4 Newcastle
Newcastle Current Form – WLDDL
Newcastle have struggled to reach the heights of previous seasons, but the quality of their team remains undeniable. In truth, Newcastle cannot be said to have played poorly or lacked ability. It really just is a case of incredible inconsistency.
The Magpies are without a clean sheet in their last five encounters, and they have won just once! Their record at home in particular is rather concerning, and here they come up against a confident Leicester side.
Eddie Howe’s men have flattered to deceive, and the pressure will surely start mounting at St James’ Park. They are 12th on the table and will know that should they fail to come away with maximum points here, the whispers in the wind will surely begin to pick up momentum.
Key Players to Watch
- Alexander Isak: This is a player with pace on and off the ball, he boasts a physical presence and his ability to drive Newcastle forward, or indeed hold up the ball, makes him an incredibly dangerous attacking player.
He will be important for a Newcastle resurgence and everyone at St James’ will be hopeful of a big performance here. - Bruno Guimaraes: A central midfielder with a classic Brazilian aggression, Guimaraes continues to show the importance of simple hard work, coupled with a pronounced physicality and nuanced skill set. He has been incredibly important for Newcastle this season, and I don’t see that changing.
- Anthony Gordon: A pacey, skilful and true finisher, Gordon has seen his career continue to improve since moving to Newcastle from Everton. Primarily a winger for Eddie Howe, it’s not just his ability in the final third which has endeared him to fans, but his work rate defensively as well.
Newcastle Team News
Newcastle will be without Jamaal Lascelles (cruciate ligament injury), Joe Wilcock (hamstring strain) and Sven Botman (knee injury) for their clash with Leicester.
Leicester Current Form – LLLWD
There can be no question that Leicester have improved under Ruud van Nistelrooy, in fact, we would go as far as to say that the extent of improvement is incredible. Yes, there is such a thing as a coach’s bounce, but there is a belief in their play which hasn’t been seen for a while.
They have averaged two goals per game under van Nistelrooy, but their defensive record and expected goals conceded numbers remain a cause for concern. They have now seen more than 2.5 goals scored in their last five games – so could we expect another high-scoring affair here?
Key Players to Watch
- Jamie Vardy: Vardy continues to silence his doubters at Leicester. He has proved to be an incredible talent over the years and a true servant to the club. He wears his heart on his sleeve and without question, he can hurt opposing defensive lines in the blink of an eye.
- Wilfred Ndidi: The Nigerian defensive midfielder has become the model of consistency at Leicester City. The simplicity in his play is effective as it is intriguing and given his formidable presence in the middle of the pitch – the Foxes will be hopeful of a strong performance.
- Jannik Vestergaard: A no-nonsense centre-back, he has had to fight for his place at Leicester and has not always had the rub of the green – but the reliable Danish international has proven incredibly valuable to everyone at the King Power.
Leicester Team News
Ricardo Perreira (hamstring strain), Harry Winks (groin injury) are both set to miss out.
Predicted Line-Up
Newcastle: 4-3-3
Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimares, Joelinton, Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Leicester: 4-2-3-1
Hermansen, Kristiansen, Vestergaard, Coady, Justin, Ndidi, Soumare, McAteer, El Khannous, Ayew, Vardy.
Suggested Bets
Ok, so we’ve given you all the information you need ahead of this weekend’s betting action. This is what we suggest for getting you through your football betting slips.
Draw: We expect a high-scoring game between two teams struggling to find a defensive foothold in their season, but we don’t see either gaining the upper hand. Back the draw here. 5/1 (6.0) with 1xBet and Betway
Both Teams to Score: This pick becomes a bit of a no-brainer when you consider the fact that neither has seen, heard or felt a clean sheet in as many as seven of their previous encounters. 7/10 (1.7) with Betway and 1xBet
Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5: For punters happy to combine the fact that these two teams have struggled to keep a clean sheet but have also found a lot of credence in front of the goal – Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals are a combination worthy of serious confidence. 8/10 (1.8) with Betway and 1xBet
Value Bets
Draw/Leicester – Double Chance: We have really enjoyed Leicester under Ruud van Nistelrooy, we feel the confidence they have going forward will set them apart here. Back the Foxes to come away from the game with something. 11/5 (3.2) with Betway and BetWinner
Jamie Vardy (Anytime Goal Scorer): Vardy has once again found form reminiscent of that 2017 season, he is playing with a new lease on life under van Nistelrooy and we think backing him to score offers incredible value. 7/4 (2.75) with Betway and BetWinner
1st Goal - Leicester: Backing the Foxes to open the scoring may be another shrewd bet for the weekend. They will run out with very little expectation and pressure in front of a rowdy St James’ Park who might be gradually becoming frustrated with their team. Get on at 12/5 (3.4) with Betway and 1xBet
Prediction: Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 Goals
We think backing both teams to score and over 2.5 goals should be the best of the weekend, the odds are generous and the proverbial tale of the tape points directly to it. Get on, yes, with provident fund confidence!
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.