Premier League Round 31: Newcastle beat Leicester City 3-0 away and moved up to fifth in the standings

On April 8 , in a key match of the 31st round of the 2024/25 Premier League, Newcastle United beat Leicester City 3-0 at the King Power Stadium, winning three consecutive league victories. This victory not only consolidated Newcastle's position in the European competition zone, but also allowed them to surpass Manchester City in the standings and rise to fifth place, laying a solid foundation for the qualification for the Champions League next season .

Newcastle quickly got into the game at the beginning. In the second minute, Livramento sent a precise cross from the left, and Murphy scored from the back point, helping the visiting team get a dream start. In the 11th minute, defender Scheer hit the crossbar with a midfield lob, and Murphy scored a brace in front of the goal, and the score quickly expanded to 2-0 . Leicester City's defense was completely unable to adapt to Newcastle's high-pressure pressing and rapid advancement, and the situation was passive.

In the 34th minute, Newcastle launched another counterattack. After Joelinton's shot was saved, Barnes made a supplementary shot and scored, making the score 3-0 . Before the end of the first half, they established a three-goal advantage, almost ending the suspense of the game.

In the second half, Leicester City coach Ruud van Nistelrooy tried to change the situation by making substitutions. The team's possession rate increased to 58% , but they were unable to pose an effective threat. In the whole game, the home team had only 7 shots, only 2 of which were on target . Facing Newcastle's tight defense, they had no way to deal with it. On the other hand, the away team defended and counterattacked steadily in the second half, controlling the rhythm. In the 66th minute, Scherer had a long shot that created a threat, but was saved by Hermansson.

In the end, Newcastle maintained the score of 3-0 until the end. After this game, they won three consecutive Premier League games and accumulated 58 points, which is the same as Chelsea's points with one game less. They also surpassed Manchester City with a goal difference advantage and rose to fifth place in the standings, adding strong momentum to the battle for Champions League qualification.

After the game, coach Eddie Howe praised the players' performance, saying that the team showed strong cohesion and execution, and the three goals in the first half were almost impeccable. He stressed that the team will continue to maintain their fighting spirit and make a full sprint for the Champions League qualification.

In contrast, Leicester City is in deep crisis. This defeat is their eighth straight defeat in the league. They currently have only 17 points, 15 points away from safety . With only seven rounds left in the league , their chances of staying in the league are slim. Coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy's position is also in jeopardy. If the team is unable to turn things around, Leicester City may be relegated at the end of the season and return to the Championship after many years.