Football News: Leicester City v Newcastle United Preview 12 April 2019

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Leicester City v Newcastle United

After Newcastle's defeat at home to Crystal Palace last week, this game has become that much more important for them as they look to guarantee they avoid the drop. They are a clear seven points ahead of Cardiff in 18th, but they have played a game more, and will want to confirm their place in the Premier League sooner rather than later. The longer it drags out, the more nervy it will become.

However, it won't be easy for them against a Leicester side who are in fine form under new manager Brendan Rodgers. The Foxes have won four consecutive league games under him, and are looking to win five straight Premier League matches for the first time since April 2017 under Craig Shakespeare. Indeed they've only won five games in a row in the competition twice before, with the other occasion being in April 2016 en route to their remarkable Premier League title win with Claudio Ranieri at the helm. That's a testament to how well they are doing right now.

Of course, both Rodgers and Benitez are former Liverpool managers, and they have met once before in the Premier League - Rodgers' Liverpool side drawing 2-2 with Benitez's Chelsea in April 2013 - a game that was marred by a Luis Suarez biting incident, of course.

In terms of head-to-head records between the two sides, it is Leicester who have had the better of recent clashes. The Foxes have won six of their last seven against the Magpies in all competitions, including three of four against Benitez's Newcastle, so for Newcastle to get that much needed win, they will have to perform better than they have done against Leicester in recent seasons.

However, Newcastle did beat Leicester 2-1 in the Premier League at the King Power Stadium, last winning back-to-back league visits to Leicester way back in 1959. Surely emulating that here will see the north east club confirm their top-flight safety for another season.

Key players:

Jamie Vardy - Vardy has scored three and assisted one goal in his last five league games against Newcastle, and he's in red hot form, scoring seven goals in his last six league outings, including six in five under Brendan Rodgers, who is getting the best out of the England forward.

Salomon Rondon - He missed a host of chances against Crystal Palace last week, but he's still the danger man for this Newcastle side. He needs one more goal to reach 10 in a Premier League season for the first time, and with three goals in six league appearances against Leicester, he has history against them that shows he could well reach double figures today.

Written by Reid the Red April 12 2019 09:11:39