Newcastle Pile on the Misery for Leicester in Pursuit of Champions League Football

A jubilant Newcastle United squad achieved their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions and ascended into the Premier League (PL) top five with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Leicester City, leaving the Foxes perilously close to the relegation zone.

Facing almost certain relegation back to the Championship, Leicester felt the weight of expectation from their fans to deliver a much-needed morale boost. However, any flickers of hope were snuffed out almost immediately as Newcastle struck first within two minutes.

A superb team play featured Joelinton feeding Harvey Barnes down the left side. The former Foxes winger then set up the overlapping Tino Livramento, who delivered a precise cross to Jacob Murphy, allowing him to slot it home at the back post.

The score doubled just 11 minutes in when Fabian Schar hit the crossbar with a remarkable strike from inside his own half, with Murphy there to tap in the rebound.

Leicester, clearly rattled after conceding two goals within the opening quarter-hour, found it difficult to make an impact against the Magpies, who looked threatening throughout the first half.

Eddie Howe’s side added a third goal at the 34-minute mark, launching a quick counterattack that ended with Mads Hermansen parrying Joelinton’s shot straight into the path of Barnes, who seamlessly slotted it into an empty net.

Having conceded 21 goals since their last strike and having lost their previous seven home league matches without finding the net, even a single consolation goal would have been a welcomed respite for the home crowd.

There would be no reprieve, however, as Newcastle continued to threaten and even came close to extending their lead further when EFL Cup final hero Dan Burn was unable to direct his header from a corner on target.

With a comfortable three-goal advantage, Howe decided to rest key players, subbing off Brazilian pair Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães, as well as Alexander Isak just after the hour mark.

On a night to forget for Leicester, the only bright spot was when Ruud van Nistelrooy handed 15-year-old Jeremy Monga his professional debut, making him the second-youngest player in Premier League history.

The Magpies comfortably navigated the final fifteen minutes with little trouble for Nick Pope, extending their unbeaten run against Leicester to six matches (W5, D1) while leaving the Foxes 15 points adrift of safety.