Newcastle United snapped a four-game winless run by pounding visitors Leicester City in a 4-0 rout at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Alexander Isak had a goal and an assist, Jacob Murphy scored twice, and Bruno Guimaraes also put one of the goal line in the win, which moves the Magpies into 11th place with 23 points. That’s four points off fourth-place Man City.
The easy quip is to call this a Ruud awakening for new Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy, who was off to a great start with a win and a draw for the bottom-half Foxes.
The 16th-place Foxes are now two points clear of the bottom three following Ipswich’s late win over Wolves.
Magpies asset station by, finally, finishing well
The Magpies entered Week 16 on a brutal run of results, 2W-4D-5L since starting with 10 of 12 points this Premier League season. That streak was made more infuriating by one of the two wins coming against Arsenal, and two of the points coming from Man City and Liverpool. Newcastle just haven’t been right against bottom-half teams, and they made that right by pummeling a Leicester who entered having taken four of their last six points. Lewis Hall has been giving lots of minutes from Eddie Howe at a young age and it’s paying off now. Hall is so comfortable on the left with Anthony Gordon, and when Alexander Isak shows up with his playmaking boots on it’s often going to be game over for visitors to St, James’ Park. Now if Howe can burnish the vibes by beating Brentford to reach the League Cup semis and get a win at Ipswich, the Magpies will be feeling better into a tough run of Villa, Man United, and Spurs from Dec. 26 to January 4.
Newcastle vs Leicester City player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Leicester player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Leicester player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The Magpies have a League Cup quarterfinal visit from Brentford at 2:45pm ET Wednesday before a visit to Ipswich Town in Premier League play at 10am Saturday.
Leicester wait until Sunday, Dec. 22 for a big 9am match versus Wolves. The Foxes have five more points than the 18th-place Wolves, but just two more than Ipswich Town.
How to watch Newcastle vs Leicester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Newcastle vs Leicester City final score: 4-0
Jacob Murphy 30', 60', Bruno Guimaraes 47', Alexander Isak 50'
Newcastle vs Leicester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Gordon, too
Anthony Gordon exits with 10 minutes to play, replaced by Joe Willock.
It’s the 100th Newcastle appearance for the ex-Arsenal man.
Isak’s day done
William Osula will the final 17 minutes, as Isak’s legs get a break after a goal and assist.
Subs
Leicester made a triple sub before Newcastle’s fourth. Patson Daka, Caleb Okoli, and Facundo Buonanotte entered for Jamie Vardy, Choudhury, and Stephy Mavididi.
Now Newcastle act. Kieran Trippier, Sean Longstaff, and Harvey Barnes are on for Murphy, Guimaraes, and Valentino Livramento.
It’s Longstaff’s 200th appearance for his boyhood club.
Jacob Murphy goal! Newcastle 4-0 Leicester (60th minute)
The Foxes are nowhere to be found.
Gordon drives play to Isak, who sends a perfect, cutting pass across the field to Murphy at the back post.
It’s his fourth big chance, and it results in a brace.
Should be four!
Hall sends Isak into the final third, and the Swede’s dizzy dribble ends with a square ball for Murphy.
He’s alone at the back post, and air mails the ball over the frame.
Alexander Isak goal! Newcastle 3-0 Leicester (50th minute)
Similar look, except this one’s from the run of play.
Gordon lays off for Hall, whose cross is deflected by Conor Coady.
Isak nods home the spoils at the back post.
You feel for Danny Ward a little.
Bruno Guimaraes goal! Newcastle 2-0 Leicester (47th minute)
Super free kick routine.
Anthony Gordon clips a wonderful ball to the back post.
Lewis Hall heads the ball back across the box where it’s all Magpies.
The captain nods home, Bruno Guimaraes adjusting his body to make it 2-0.
Leicester goalkeeper switch
Hermansen was very good but he’ll depart for Danny Ward.
Can Newcastle have better luck against the new keeper?
The Magpies haven’t had any problems using their No. 2 backstop, Martin Dubravka, who is deputizing for injured Nick Pope.
Halftime — Newcastle United 1-0 Leicester City
A little bit better from Leicester before halftime but the real story is Newcastle’s dominance only producing a single goal.
Shot attempts are 14-3 and possession at 62% for the hosts.
Five of Newcastle’s shots are on target. Hermansen has one tremendous save but Newcastle have missed a breakaway and a few other high danger chances.
xG is 1.19 to 0.10, and 0.48 belongs to Isak who has not scored.
Isak flubs breakaway
The Swede is on a breakaway and basically side-foots a pass to Hermansen.
This should be a blowout. Will Newcastle rue the misses?
1-0, 37'.
Jacob Murphy goal! Newcastle 1-0 Leicester City (30th minute)
Murphy makes amends for his miss with a surgeon’s finish from 18 yards inside the post.
Anthony Gordon with a deserved assist off a corner routine.
It was almost 100% coming. Now will Leicester be able to get out of their low block and find some attack?
Glaring miss from Murphy
Brilliant control from Isak to cue up Joelinton, whose central shot is blocked onto the path of Jacob Murphy.
The winger screws a brilliant chance well wide given his station. Oof.
0-0, 28'.
More Magpies near misses
Sandro Tonali hits a free kick into the wall but the Magpies keep pushing.
Now Dan Burn has a header deflected out for a corner.
Gordon’s service is partially cleared but Newcastle quickly reboot possession into the final third.
0-0, 23'.
All Newcastle now
Gordon is on fire, but the finishing from his teammates is off the boil.
The winger back heels the ball to Lewis Hall, who clips a cross to the back post.
Bruno Guimaraes can’t get his header on target.
0-0, 14'.
Mads Hermansen save!
Anthony Gordon dribbles from the left wing to the top of the box, keeping his distance from Hamza Choudhury to rip off a high shot.
Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen flies to his right to slap away the danger.
The Magpies threaten off a short corner, Gordon crossing for Dan Burn. The big man heads over the bar.
0-0, 9'.
Leicester on the front foot to start
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men are buzzing early, something you don’t often see of visitors at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle have already had to make a couple of interventions to stop promising progressions from the Foxes.
0-0, 5'.
Newcastle lineup
Dubravka, Hall, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Leicester City lineup
Hermansen, Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Choudhury, Skipp, El Khannus, Mavididi, McAteer, Vardy
Newcastle vs Leicester City preview
Leicester City hope to continue the good vibes under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy when they meet inconsistent but dangerous Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday. Leicester have claimed four-of-six points from two matches under Van Nistelrooy, and the Foxes are five points clear of the bottom three and six behind their Saturday hosts.
Newcastle are 5-5-5, their 20 points putting them 12th and well away from their hopeful top-four station thanks to a baffling record. The Magpies have a 2W-2D-1L record against the so-called Big Six teams of the Premier League this season, including draws with Liverpool and Man City. But they’ve also disappointed with 3W-3D-4L against the other 13 teams of the division. In order to return to Europe, they have to get back to strong performances against everyone. That may not be easy after disappointing midway through last season in a similar fashion, but Eddie Howe’s got the talent and record to set things right.
Newcastle United team news, focus
Alexander Isak has been very dangerous in recent weeks but somehow also a bit wasteful. The Golden Boot-caliber forward will look to put that right in the center of talented wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes amongst others. Bruno Guimaraes has also found an uptick in form.
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Callum Wilson (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Joe Willock (hamstring), Nick Pope (knee)
Leicester City team news, focus
Jamie Vardy is 15th in Premier League history when it comes to goals (142), two behind Robin van Persie and four back of Teddy Sheringham. The soon-to-be 38 year old is 20 goals back of the top 10. Can he stay productive long enough to reach that mark?
OUT: Wilfred Ndidi (thigh), Boubakary Soumare (suspension), Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle), Ricardo Pereira (thigh), Abdul Fatawu (knee - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Odsonne Edouard (undisclosed), Harry Winks (groin)
Newcastle vs Leicester City prediction
The Magpies are capable of the sublime and have generally been better at home than away during the Howe era, at least in terms of performances. Isak is going to be too much for the Foxes back line, and there will be spoils to be found as Leicester focus on the Swedish striker. But Leicester can attack, too, and Newcastle have had their foibles defending top strikers. If Vardy stays hot, this will be a hassle before a more expected result. Newcastle 2-1 Leicester.
