Pretty clear what’s at stake for the Monday night football match in the Premier League. Newcastle United can clinch a Champions League berth for next season with a draw or better here, or on Championship Sunday.
For Leicester City, it is all about trying to escape the dreaded drop to the Championship.
Newcastle United vs Leicester City FYIs
Kickoff: St. James’ Park, Monday, May 22, 8pm
Team News for Both Sides: go here
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Form, Standing: Newcastle 3rd, 69 pts, WDLWW Leicester City 19th, 30 pts, LLDDW
Google Result Probability Newcastle 70% Leicester City 13% Draw 17%
The West Ham win over Leeds, earlier today, is certainly a boon to Leicester as it looks like we now know who the second side to be relegated will be. Leeds are in deep deep trouble now and seem destined to join Southampton in the Championship next year.
Additionally, Nottingham Forest locked up safety in their win over Arsenal yesterday, meaning it now is done to Everton, Leicester and Leeds to battle it out.
Two of those three will not survive and stay up in the top flight.
Starting XI Predictions for Both Sides
Leicester City
Iversen; Ricardo, Faes, Evans, Castagne; Ndidi, Soumare, Tielemans; Maddison, Vardy, Barnes.
Newcastle United
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Anderson, Guimaraes, Almiron; Wilson, Gordon, Saint-Maximin.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.