Newcastle United take on Leicester City in the Premier League this evening.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Newcastle United will beat Leicester City 2-1 at St. James’ Park this afternoon.
Newcastle head into the game in miserable form, as they lost 3-1 at Chelsea last weekend – despite taking a 1-0 lead – to make it just one point in the last six games.
With previous defeats to Burnley, Bournemouth, Manchester United and Watford, Newcastle’s only point in their last six games was the 2-2 draw at West Brom – and even then, they were 2-0 down at The Hawthorns before staging a superb fightback.
Claude Puel
Newcastle now lie 15th in the Premier League table, just five points clear of the relegation zone, and manager Rafael Benitez needs a win to turn the tide on Tyneside.
Today, Newcastle host Leicester City at St. James’ Park, with the Foxes arriving in good form under new manager Claude Puel, who has won three of his six games in charge.
Leicester beat Burnley 2-0 at the King Power Stadium last weekend, and sit ninth in the Premier League table, with Puel now hoping for another win tonight.
Ahead of the game, pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Leicester are competing around where they should be right now, but believes they will fall to a 2-1 defeat, backing Benitez to claim all three points.
“Newcastle’s poor run continued with their defeat at Chelsea, and they have now taken only one point from their past six matches,” said Lawrenson. “Leicester, in contrast, beat Burnley to maintain their improvement under Claude Puel. The Foxes are ninth in the table, which is around where they should be.”
“I just fancy Newcastle to edge this one, though. Benitez has made his feelings clear about the limitations of his squad but he is still usually very good at negating the opposition’s main strength. His side need a win, and I think they will get one,” he added.
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