Newcastle United made it four wins in a row on Monday night as they beat Leicester City 3-0 at the King Power Stadium.
The game was all but over after just 35 minutes, thanks to an early brace from Jacob Murphy and a strike from Harvey Barnes against his former club.
There was no love lost between Newcastle’s Barnes and Leicester. In fact, the supporters inside the stadium chanted for the 27-year-old upon his return to the King Power Stadium.
Newcastle’s win against Leicester moves them up to fifth in the Premier League table, giving them the advantage in an incredibly tight Champions League race. The Magpies have a game in hand over the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City around them.
Jacob Murphy overtook Anthony Elanga in goal contributions for the season with his brace on Monday night. The Nottingham Forest man is tipped to join the Magpies during the summer transfer window, but Murphy’s form will surely give Eddie Howe something to think about.
The Magpies are keen on a return to the Champions League after missing out on European football this season. Newcastle will definitely be playing in Europe next season, but the players and the supporters want it to be much more than the Europa Conference League.
With Newcastle’s focus fully on a return to Europe’s top competition, Jamie Carragher has predicted where he thinks Howe’s side will finish at the end of the season.
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Jamie Carragher predicts Newcastle United’s Premier League position
Carragher is sure to be sick of the sight of Newcastle after they beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. But the 47-year-old recognised their achievement post-match. Carragher said Newcastle ‘battered’ Liverpool in the final, fully admitting that the Magpies were the better team on the day.
On Monday night, Carragher was still full of praise for Newcastle and Murphy in particular. Carragher said Murphy was “fantastic” during the win, a claim that Craig Bellamy completely agreed on.
Newcastle’s last eight league games have a mix of difficult and more favourable matchups. Fans will surely have one eye on the clash between Newcastle and Champions League rivals Chelsea in May.
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Speaking on Sky Sports News, Carragher discussed who he thinks will finish in the top five this season.
“Looking at the fixtures and Newcastle having a game in hand, I think Nottingham Forest will just do it, I think Chelsea will miss out as they have the toughest fixtures,” Carragher said.
“Newcastle will make it and I think Man City will just make it as well. Those last four fixtures, you would expect Man City to win all four, even with the troubles they have had this season. I think Aston Villa will just miss out.”
Bellamy believed Newcastle will qualify for the Champions League, but backed Aston Villa to beat both Chelsea and Man City in the race for top five.
Newcastle United have fond memories against Leicester City
The Magpies have enjoyed a fine unbeaten run against Leicester, which was extended to six games with the win on Monday night.
Since taking over as manager, Howe has only lost once against Leicester, a 4-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium in December 2021.
Results have gotten much better in recent years, with Newcastle winning five of their last six games against Leicester. However, that one draw may go down as the most significant of the lot, as that was the game that confirmed Newcastle were returning to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
It was an edgy game once Newcastle would have won comfortably in any other circumstance. But in the end a 0-0 draw was enough to round off a truly memorable season.
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