Newcaste have a wonderful season so far. They are 3rd on the table, so Eddie Howe's team has a realistic chance to finish in the top four and secure the Champions League spot. Still, Newcastle are without a win in the previous three matches. Unexpectedly, they played a draw with Leeds at home, and after that there was also a draw against Arsenal, and it really seems to me that Newcastle went into that match with the intention of not losing, and they succeeded in that thanks to a great defense. In the last game, they lost 2-1 on the road in the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday. I must mention that they played that match in a mixed lineup and despite that they were a better rival. The guests had 75% ball possession and 22 shots on goal, but they still lost against the League One side. Today, they welcome Leicester at home in the EFL Cup, with a great desire to get back to winning ways. They certainly have reasons for optimism, because in addition to having a fantastic team, they can boast of a perfect score when they play at St. James Park. They have played nine matches at home and have not lost a single one. They conceded only five goals in those matches, which only shows that Newcastle's defense is really at a high level.

Leicester really don't look like themselves this season. In the championship, they are only two points away from the danger zone and their form has not been the best lately. After the end of the World Cup, they played three games in the championship and experienced three defeats with only one goal scored. In the game before this one, they played a cup game against lower division Gillingham and despite the fact that they came out with almost the strongest team, they only managed to achieve a minimum victory of 1-0. That they are a much better team than Leicester at the moment, Newcastle showed in the game on Boxing day when they beat them 3-0 as guests. Unlike the match against Sheffield Wednesday, Eddie Howe will include players like Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Tripier, as well as the first goalkeeper Pope in the team from the first minute. With these players in the team from the start and others from the first line-up of Newcastle, it is clear that his team wants to win this match and secure a place in the semi-finals.