Leicester v Newcastle predictions: Fragile Foxes may suffer another setback

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Leicester v Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Newcastle or draw double chance
1pt 23-20 Hills

Team news

Leicester
Wesley Fofana, Ricardo Pereira and James Justin are long-term injuries. Filip Benkovic, Jannik Vestergaard, Daniel Amartey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ayoze Perez and Ademola Lookman are all doubts with either illness or Covid.

Newcastle
Paul Dummett remains out through injury, while Fabian Schar and Ryan Fraser are doubts.

Match preview

Leicester’s Europa League ambitions crashed and burned in Naples on Thursday and they could suffer more Premier League frustration when they face Newcastle at the King Power.

The Foxes have now conceded 40 goals in 23 games in all competitions - it took them 38 matches to reach that milestone last season. Brendan Rodgers’ side have only kept one clean sheet in the league this campaign, in their opening day victory over Wolves.

Newcastle, Norwich and Watford are the only teams to have conceded more than the Foxes, who finished last season in fifth.

Leicester’s 3-2 defeat to Napoli demonstrated the issues which have plagued them all season. At times, Rodgers' side were fluid in attack and caused the Italian side plenty of problems, but all too often the visitors were picked apart at the back, particularly on the counter.

Their midfield duo of Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi were bypassed too easily and left their defence exposed. The Foxes have now conceded at least two goals in five of their last six games in all competitions.

To add to their defensive issues, Leicester’s squad has been decimated through injury, illness and Covid. Nine of their first team squad are doubtful for this game, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman, Ayoze Perez and Jannik Vestergaard all likely to miss out.

Wesley Fofana, Ricardo Pererira and James Justin are long-term injuries.

On the other hand, Newcastle have an almost full-strength squad to choose from, with Paul Dummett their only confirmed absentee.

The Magpies picked up both their first clean sheet and first win of the season last week against Burnley. Eddie Howe has managed to bring an increased sense of stability and organisation to the side and the attacking efforts of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin are vital to the chances of Newcastle staying up.

The Magpies were 4-2 winners in this fixture last year, with Wilson and Joe Willock helping put the Toon Army 4-0 up after 73 minutes.

Howe’s side will be targeting this fixture against a vulnerable Leicester side as the Magpies face Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United in the three games following this one.

Only Brighton have secured more draws this season than Newcastle and they can take at least a point from a battered and bruised Leicester squad with defensive issues plaguing them.

Key stat

Leicester have conceded at least twice in five of their last six games.

Inside info

Leicester

Penalty taker Jamie Vardy
Free-kick wizard James Maddison
Set-piece aerial threat Caglar Soyuncu
Card magnet Wilfred Ndidi

Newcastle

Penalty taker Callum Wilson
Free-kick wizardJonjo Shelvey
Set-piece aerial threatJamaal Lascelles
Card magnetJamaal Lascelles

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