Leicester vs Newcastle preview, team news, stats, kick-off time, live on Sky Sports
Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans set to be available; no Fabian Schar for visitors; follow Leicester vs Newcastle live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 7.30pm; kick-off 8pm; watch free highlights shortly after full time on Sky Sports website and app
Friday 7 May 2021 18:46, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Leicester vs Newcastle in the Premier League on Friday (kick-off 8pm).
Team news
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers expects Jonny Evans to be "fine" for Friday's home clash with Newcastle after the defender had a scan on a foot issue.
Striker Jamie Vardy, who sustained some ankle swelling from a tackle in the 1-1 draw at Southampton last week, is also set to be available.
Defender Wes Morgan (back) is not yet ready to make a return to action, and winger Harvey Barnes and full-back James Justin (both knee) continue with their recoveries.
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Newcastle defender Fabian Schar will miss the game through suspension after the club failed in their appeal to have his red card overturned.
The defender was sent off for a challenge on Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli late in Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by the Gunners and must sit out the next three matches as a result.
On-loan midfielder Joe Willock returns to the squad after being ineligible to face his parent club, but youngster Elliot Anderson is struggling with a hip problem and goalkeeper Karl Darlow and midfielder Isaac Hayden (both knee), skipper
Jamaal Lascelles (foot) and winger Ryan Fraser (groin) are still sidelined.
How to follow
Leicester vs Newcastle will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 7.30pm; kick-off 8pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
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Last time out...
Jones Knows' prediction
Leicester are five points clear in the race for a Champions League spot, have an FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend and have one of the deadliest strikers in the league playing in their colours in Kelechi Iheanacho.
But I don't want to back them here at 2/5 with Sky Bet.
I'm still not convinced they are at their best when faced with a low defensive block to break down. Iheanacho's finishing has helped in that regard but it took them a fair while to get through Crystal Palace in their eventual 2-1 win and, despite playing with an extra-man for 80 minutes at Southampton, they didn't convince in the final third.
Being forgiving of one bad run is a theory that serves a purpose punting on the horses and I'm going to use it here when it comes to assessing Newcastle. Before their very limp defeat to Arsenal, Steve Bruce's side had only lost one of their previous eight, playing with much more spark, and in Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, they have an attacking duo to scare any defence on the counter. They can get a result here.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 1-1
BETTING ANGLE: Newcastle to draw or win (15/8 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
- Leicester City have won eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Newcastle United (L2), having won just three of their first 17 against them in the competition (D5 L9).
- Since they were promoted back to the Premier League in 2017, Newcastle United have won two of their three away league games against Leicester City, though they did lose this exact fixture 5-0 last season.
- Leicester City have won just one of their 11 Premier League games played on a Friday (D4 L6), with that being their famous 9-0 victory over Southampton last season. At home, the Foxes have drawn one and lost two of their three Friday Premier League games, with two of those coming against Newcastle United (1-1 December 2003, 0-1 April 2019).
- Leicester City have won back-to-back home league games for the second time in 2021, having done so just once in the whole of 2020. However, the Foxes haven't managed more than two consecutive home league wins since December 2019 (a run of 7).
- Newcastle have scored a league-low 33% of their Premier League goals in the first half of games this season (12/36). Indeed, the Magpies have only been leading at half-time in four Premier League matches this term, with only Sheffield United (3) doing so on fewer occasions.
- Since joining Leicester in 2018, James Maddison has scored more goals against Newcastle in all competitions than he has versus any other side (3). Indeed, the midfielder has netted in each of his last three appearances against the Magpies.
Pitch to Post Preview: Jamie Redknapp on Man City vs Chelsea; Plus: what next for Arsenal, Man Utd after EL ties, and the top-four race
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp joins Peter Smith to discuss Manchester City and Chelsea reaching the Champions League final ahead of their clash at the Etihad this weekend.
He also picks out some standout performers from both sides, explaining how Ruben Dias has transformed City, and praising the rise of Phil Foden and Mason Mount.
Sky Sports football writers Oli Yew and Ben Grounds are also on the show to discuss Arsenal's Europa League exit and Man Utd's progress to the final - and what comes next for both sides, with Mikel Arteta under pressure and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side looking to kick on.
Ben also assesses the top-four race, with some key fixtures coming up, and makes his Pitch for what he thinks will happen in the Premier League this weekend!
