Leicester City host Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium on Monday (Watch live, 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN and online via Live Extra) with Claudio Ranieri’s side top of the Premier League table.
The Foxes can go five points clear at the top with a win, but after watching Tottenham Hotspur cut their lead at the summit to two points it will be a test of nerve for the surprise PL leaders.
[ PREVIEW: Leicester-Newcastle ]
For Newcastle, they are in deep trouble at the other end of the table and sit in 19th place with 24 points from 28 games. They have been buoyed by the surprise arrival of Rafael Benitez, as the former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Napoli manager has taken charge at St James’ Park.
If he manages to keep them up in the final 10 games of this season then there’s real optimism in the air among the Toon Army.
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First up though, Benitez has a huge task on his hands as Leicester has lost just one of their 15 home games this season in the PL and the Magpies have only won twice on the road.
In team news Leicester remain unchanged as Riyad Mahrez has recovered from a slight hamstring injury. As for Newcastle, Benitez starts Lascelles at center back, Colback at left back and picks an attacking lineup with Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum all starting.
LINEUPS
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Kante, Drinkwater, Mahrez, Albrighton; Vardy, Okazaki. Subs: Schwarzer, Wasilewski, Amartey, Inler, Gray, Schlupp, Ulloa
Newcastle United: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Colback; Shelvey, Anita, Wijnaldum, Sissoko; Perez, Mitrovic. Subs: Darlow, Sterry, Saivet, Townsend, De Jong, Riviere, Doumbia
