Newcastle travel to Leicester for the Super Sunday game this weekend, hoping to emulate their impressive 1-0 victory last season, which virtually secured Premier League survival for Rafa Benitez’s men.
Of course, Rafa is no more, and it is Steve Bruce who must mastermind a game-plan to out-fox Brendan Rodgers.
It has been a summer of changes for both sides, and Leicester City’s recruitment has seen them dream of breaking into the top six. They currently sit third in the table with 11 points.
Their only defeat was at Old Trafford, with Manchester United winning 1-0.
Newcastle have looked better away from home, with their defensive, counter-attacking approach being more suited to games where the home side are on the front foot.
It worked perfectly at Tottenham, and was effective for periods at Liverpool. Bruce will be hoping it will get them the points at Leicester on Sunday.
Early Team News
Newcastle’s injury list is slowly clearing, and although long-term absentees Dwight Gayle and Florian Lejeune are still some way off a return, and Matt Ritchie likely to be a week away from a comeback, none of the others have been ruled out.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Sean Longstaff are reportedly set for recalls, while DeAndre Yedlin could have an outside chance of a spot on the bench.
Leicester are set to be without key midfielder James Maddison, which is a bonus for Newcastle, with the England man being one of the Premier League’s top performers during the early weeks.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
The Lancashire official takes charge of Newcastle for the first time this season, having been in charge for four Premier League games so far.
During those games, Kavanagh has awarded two penalties, shown seven yellow cards and not sent anyone off.
This will be the 13th time he has taken charge of a Newcastle game, and the seventh time in the Premier League. From those Premier League games, he has booked 11 Newcastle players, and the same number for the opposition.
No red cards were shown in those games, and only one penalty has been awarded – for West Ham last season.
Points to prove
Allan Saint-Maximin will be hoping to show that his cameo role against Brighton last week was a sign of what he can bring to the side from the outset.
Certainly his pace and direct, attacking style will be integral to ensuring Newcastle make the most of their counter-attacks.
No doubt, Ayoze Perez will be up for the game, and hoping to leave the visiting fans – who often criticised the Spaniard – disappointed when the full-time whistle blows.
He is still looking for his first goal for the Foxes, and if he was to get it against his former side, it would taste extra sweet.
Given the huge fee Leicester paid for him, he could be under a bit of pressure to get a goal, and as Miguel Almiron is finding out at Newcastle, the longer the wait goes on, the more it affects performances.
Likely formations
Steve Bruce is likely to continue utilising his three centre-back formation, and despite rumours of a switch to midfield for Fabian Schar, it will be a surprise not to see him remain in the centre of defence.
Saint Maximin’s return gives more options at the top end of the pitch, and he is likely to be a straight swap for Almiron.
As a result, Newcastle are likely to play a 5-3-1-1 lineup.
Brendan Rodgers has used a 4-1-4-1 formation in all bar one of their Premier League games this season. The exception was a 2-1 away win at Sheffield United, where he played a more attacking 4-3-3.
He will likely stick to the more trusted formation against Newcastle, and when it has been used on previous occasions, Perez was used on the right wing – in the games he started – with Jamie Vardy being the lone striker.
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