Leicester vs Newcastle Report
Scorers: Murphy 2’, 11’, Barnes 34’
Newcastle United continued their red-hot form with a commanding 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, recording a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions and surging into the Premier League’s top five.
For Leicester, the writing now appears firmly on the wall, as they remain 15 points from safety and inch closer to an immediate return to the Championship.
Lightning Start Crushes Foxes’ Spirit
Desperate to give their fans a reason to believe, Leicester’s hopes were dashed almost immediately. Inside two minutes, Newcastle struck with a beautifully-worked team move.
Joelinton fed Harvey Barnes down the left flank, and the former Foxes winger released Tino Livramento, whose pinpoint cross found Jacob Murphy at the far post to prod home the opener.
Just nine minutes later, it was 2-0. After Fabian Schär rattled the crossbar with a speculative thunderbolt from inside his own half, Murphy reacted quickest to slot home the rebound, bagging his second of the night and leaving Leicester completely shellshocked.
Barnes Haunts Former Side as Newcastle Run Riot
It didn’t take long for the Magpies to make it three, with Joelinton again at the heart of the move.
His driven effort was parried by Mads Hermansen, but the ball fell kindly for Barnes, who instinctively tapped into an empty net against his former club to round off a devastating 34-minute spell for the visitors.
Leicester, meanwhile, were completely overrun and failed to register a meaningful chance before the break.
The weight of seven consecutive home league defeats without scoring was visible in their play, and there was little suggestion that would change.
Second-Half Control and Rotation for Howe’s Men
With a UEFA Champions League push firmly in sight, Eddie Howe took the opportunity to manage minutes, withdrawing key players including Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, and Alexander Isak just after the hour mark.
Newcastle remained in cruise control, barely allowing the hosts a sniff at Nick Pope’s goal.
Defender Dan Burn came close to adding a fourth from a corner, but headed just off target as the visitors kept Leicester firmly on the back foot.
Leicester’s Nightmare Continues – But a Glimpse of the Future
The only positive on a bleak night for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side came in the form of a historic debut.
15-year-old Jeremy Monga was introduced late on, becoming the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history – a moment that at least offered a glimpse of the club’s potential future.
Still, there was no masking the grim reality: eight consecutive home league defeats and a staggering 21 goals conceded since they last scored in the top flight.
What It Means
- Newcastle United: The Magpies move into the top five and extend their unbeaten run against Leicester to six matches (W5, D1). With momentum on their side and key players in form, Howe’s side look primed for a strong end to the season.
- Leicester City: The Foxes remain 15 points adrift of safety, with survival looking all but mathematically impossible. Relegation now seems a formality, and attention may soon turn to long-term rebuilding in the Championship.
Up Next
- Newcastle face a pivotal test in their quest for Europe, with games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa on the horizon.
- Leicester look to avoid further embarrassment and at least end a painful campaign on a note of pride — even as the drop looms.
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Leicester v Newcastle, 2024/25 | Premier League