📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Match preview
After having their FA Cup dreams shattered on Saturday night, if Newcastle are going to end their 54-year wait for major silverware, it’s going to have to come in this competition.
At the weekend, Eddie Howe’s team were on the wrong-end of a cup upset, beaten 2-1 by third-tier Sheffield Wednesday.
Bruno Guimarães’s close-range finish did set up a grand-stand finish at Hillsborough, but the Magpies could not find an equaliser.
Before this, Newcastle were unbeaten in 15 matches in league and cup, form that leaves them third in the Premier League.
So far in the League Cup, the Toon Army have seen off Tranmere Rovers, Crystal Palace on penalties and then Bournemouth last month.
So, they’re on the verge of a first semi-final since 2005, last featuring in the last four of this competition in in 1976, beaten by Manchester City in that season’s final.
Brendan Rodgers’ side also reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season, but are not living up their lofty ambitions just now.
Having lost all three since the restart, Leicester sit 13th in the Premier League, most-recently beaten at home by Fulham a week ago.
On Saturday, the Foxes did reach the FA Cup fourth round, edging out Gillingham, with Kelechi Ịheanachọ the match-winner at Priestfield.
Leicester nearly crashed out in the second round of this competition back in August, needing penalties to overcome Stockport, but have since swatted aside Newport and Milton Keynes, both 3-0.
However, Newcastle come into this quarter-final as big favourites, having run out 3-0 winners at King Power as recently as Boxing Day.
Leicester had won six successive visits to St James’ before a 2-1 defeat on Tyneside last April, so which way will this tie go?
Newcastle United team news
Neither Callum Wilson nor Fabian Schär travelled to Sheffield on Saturday due to illness, but both are hopeful of returning here.
Although, Wilson now faces stiff competition for places, after Alexander Isak started for the first time since September at the weekend.
Jamaal Lascelles, Jamal Lewis, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie were all given rare starts at Hillsborough, but none are likely to keep their places.
In fact, it would be no surprise if Eddie Howe reverted to the XI that held league-leaders Arsenal to a goalless draw last Tuesday.
Miguel Almirón scored against Leicester a fortnight ago, so will he get his ninth of the campaign here?
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schär, Botman, Burn; Guimarães, S Longstaff, Willock; Almirón, Joelinton, Wilson.
Leicester City team news
The visitors are without James Maddison who hasn’t featured since 12 November due to a knee injury.
Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes for Saturday’s visit to Kent, with Daniel Iversen, Lewis Brunt and Kasey McAteer all surprise inclusions.
At the back, Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand, Ricardo Pereira and James Justin are all out injured.
Meantime , Jannik Vestergaard and Çağlar Söyüncü, who were the weekend’s centre-back pairing, are out of favour.
So Daniel Amartey and Wout Faes, scorer of two own goals at Anfield ten days ago, will be tasked with shutting Newcastle out.
Ayoze Pérez, who made 195 appearances for Newcastle, was out in the wilderness until recently, but is likely to face his former club here.
Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ịheanachọ led the line against Gillingham, but Patson Daka has been Rodgers’ first-choice recently.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ward; Castagne, Amartey, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi, Soumaré, Tielemans; Pérez, Barnes, Daka.
Newcastle United vs Leicester City: Head to head statistics
[STATISTICS]
