Leicester City came out on top in their New Year’s Day clash with Newcastle United as Brendan Rodgers’s side were comfortable 3-0 winners. Steve Bruce’s slump continues with the Magpies as they have lost three consecutive matches, leaving them just five points off the drop, having been double that three games ago.
Throughout the match, Newcastle pressed the self-destruct button handing Leicester opportunities with defensive mistakes for their first two goals. For the opener, a pass was misplaced at the back and former Magpies player Ayoze Perez was grateful for the gift; while James Maddison riffled his effort into the top corner to make it two after a similar defensive error.
Hamza Choudhury added gloss to the result with an emphatic drive to outdo Maddison’s previous effort and make sure Leicester City started the New Year with a bang.
Defence sells Dubravka short
In the past three games, Newcastle have now committed six errors leading to goals. The Magpies defence appears to be a million miles away from what it has been at times under both Rafael Benitez and Bruce and it seems lapses in concentration are becoming more frequent which is leading directly to goals.
Despite Martin Dubravka’s best efforts, in the past few games, he has been unable to add to his five clean sheets this season. Part of the reason the Magpies have been so successful in the opening half of this campaign has been their defensive solidity but as one of the lowest scoring sides in the division, if that goes, so do the chances of Premier League survival.
Maddison masterclass
The English playmaker was top drawer against Newcastle United and ran the show as his side kept 77 percent of possession. The 23-year-old created chances at will but was unable to provide for a teammate; instead, he capitalised on a Newcastle mistake to fire in one of the most memorable goals of his Premier League career to date. He is now the joint highest-scoring English midfielder in the topflight this season and just one behind Kevin De Bruyne’s seven goals from midfield.
Lejeune shocker
Florian Lejeune looked like he was still hungover from New Year’s Eve against Leicester City as on two separate occasions his misplaced passes cost the Magpies points. It was an abject performance from the usually tidy defender, and it is not often you see him concede possession quite so cheaply. He, along with Bruce’s other centre backs, need to raise their game in Jamall Lascelles’s absence; otherwise, the Englishman will be walking back into the side.
Ndidi sparkles again
Wilfred Ndidi is turning into the complete midfielder, his tackling and interception stats this season have been through the roof, and he intelligently provided the assist for Choudhury instead of going for goal himself. Many wondered how the Foxes would replace Kante, and it may not have been instant, but there are few better than the Nigerian in his position at the moment. If he continues to perform as he did in 2019, then he is in with a shot at a place in the Premier League team of the season.
Next Up
Both teams feature in the FA Cup this weekend, then Leicester City face Southampton when the Premier League returns with Newcastle squaring up against Wolves.
