Eddie Howe and Newcastle United know Champions League football is now well within their grasp following Thursday's win over Brighton. The Magpies head coach is still reluctant to talk about any European ambition and is taking it one game at a time, but his side now know a win over Leicester City on Monday will guarantee a top-four place.
Newcastle are four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool going into the weekend fixtures, and three points against the Foxes will get the job done no matter what Jurgen Klopp's side do.
Dean Smith's side have shown a few signs of a revival, but their dismal defensive record could be their undoing. The Magpies on the other hand, must exploit this in a game which could all but confirm their place in the Champions League next season.
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The Foxes travel to St. James' Park on Monday, in the penultimate game of the season having not kept a clean sheet in the top flight since a 2-0 win over West Ham United way back in November.
In fact, the former Premier League champions have kept just six clean sheets all season, the third worst record in the division with only Southampton and Leeds United below them in that regard. Newcastle on the other hand, have been imperious this season.
Their impressive run without conceding has taken somewhat of a hit in recent weeks, but they boast the fewest goals conceded in the Premier League and have kept 13 clean sheets, the second highest behind Manchester United on 14.
