Our picks

Newcastle United vs Leicester City: 01/01/2020 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Newcastle United vs Leicester City

Date: 01/01/2020

K/O: 15:00

Venue: St James’ Park

Referee: Martin Atkinson

TV: BT Sport 1

Newcastle host the team that delivered their biggest defeat of the season so far as they welcome Leicester City to St James’ Park on New Years Day in one of the first games of the new decade.

Will the Magpies turn the corner on the last decade?

After an up and down ‘noughties’ featuring title challenges and Alan Shearer, the 2010s have been a time of frustration for Newcastle United. Increasing anger at owner Mike Ashley combined with mediocre league placings and relegations has left many fans upset at the clubs’ running and ambitions. The Magpies’ fifth-place finish in 2012 and Europa League Quarter-final in 2013 are the clear highlights, but these place alongside relegation in 2015 and numerous relegation scares across the decade.

Rafa’ Benítez’s departure perhaps most epitomizes this, with the Spaniard leaving after rejecting a new contract on the rumored grounds that he was not receiving enough backing. New manager Steve Bruce has exceeded expectation in his first half-season in charge, with the club currently sat in 11th place on 25 points after 20 games. While it is not the return to glory Magpies fans would have liked, it is at least one positive takeaway as the decade draws to a close.

But as the 2020s arrives, many hope that these coming ten years will be a chapter of return to success for such a historic and established club. Simply staying in the Premier League is more than a good start, as it allows the club to continue to receive the huge amounts of TV money that accompanies being in the first division. Building up this cash will surely give Newcastle United the chance to invest and improve, slowly pushing themselves up the table – although the question of whether or not Mike Ashley is prepared to do this still lingers.

The best way to start this rise back to success is, of course, by winning football games. A home win against a team that beat them so convincingly in the reverse fixture could start the decade with a sense of good-feeling and optimism that could indicate, or even be needed for, future success.

More success on the way for the Foxes?

This has been, undeniably, a thoroughly emotional decade for Leicester City. It all started in 2010 when the King Power Group, led by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, purchased the club who were, at that point in time, a staple Championship side.

After four years of toil and near-misses, the goal of returning to the first division was achieved with Nigel Pearson at the helm. This glory was almost taken away by a terrible start to the 2014-2015 season until they scraped survival in “the great escape”. Controversy saw Pearson sacked and Ranieri appointed, a series of events that led to the title win of 2016 and the Champions League Quarterfinal in 2017. This shifted as the club experienced the tragic death of owner Vichai who had kickstarted this success, but the outpouring of emotion associated with it brought the club and city closer together.

The emotion, and the success, only looks to continue into the next decade as Leicester find themselves comfortably in second place as 2020 begins. Rodgers has taken the Foxes back up to the top end of the table and they look set to regain a place in the Champions League next year. With such a talented, young squad and such an excellent manager now held down on a long-term manager, it seems like the only way is up for Leicester City.

This game seems like it might only be a continuation of the trend Leicester are on. Despite two heavy losses to Manchester City and then Liverpool, Leicester seemed to easily bounce back to their former selves when they beat West Ham away with what was essentially their reserve team (they made a whole nine changes). With their first team back and fit again, Leicester will be more than capable of going to St James’ Park and coming away with all three points.

Team News

Paul Dummett, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles are all still out for Newcastle, although Kell Watts could make his return. There are also doubts for Joelinton, Ki Sung-Yueng and Fabian Schar – but all are likely to play.

Meanwhile, Leicester have a fully fit squad besides Matty James, after Ricardo Pereira recovered from a tight hamstring.

Predicted Starting XIs

Newcastle United (4-5-1): Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Fernández, Lejune, Willems; Hayden, Shelvey, Almirón; Carrol, Joelinton.

Leicester City (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Gray; Vardy

Score Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Leicester

Leicester’s return to form will continue here in a similar style to their game against West Ham, although this will serve to be a tougher game than the reverse 5-0 thumping. Newcastle will gain the advantage with a goal before Leicester hit back with one of their own, and Leicester will control the game until they get their second; leading into a tense final stage of the game where the Magpies try to claw an equaliser.

90MAAT News Now

Premier League Table

90MAAT Social Media

ScoopDragon Football News Network

Search The Site