Newcastle United find themselves struggling in the Premier League, sitting near the bottom of the table, far from their original goal of securing European football this season.
Ahead of their match against Leicester City, the team had gone winless in four Premier League matches, including a tough 4-2 loss to Brentford on December 7. While their league form has been disappointing, Newcastle has performed better in the League Cup, progressing after defeating Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon, and Chelsea.
On the other hand, Brentford has been in good form and is aiming for a European spot. Their 4-2 victory over Newcastle further extended their strong run, and they are also competing for silverware after their success in the EFL Cup, where they triumphed over teams like Colchester, Leyton Orient, and Sheffield Wednesday.
Newcastle is facing some injury challenges, with key players like Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, and Emil Krafth unavailable. Alexander Isak, who has scored six goals this season, remains their main offensive threat, while Bruno Guimaraes continues to play a crucial role in midfield.
Brentford, too, has injury concerns, particularly with midfielders Mathias Jensen and defenders Aaron Hickey and Ethan Pinnock sidelined. Despite these setbacks, Yoane Wissa, with nine goals this season, has stepped up in place of the departed Ivan Toney, alongside Bryan Mbeumo, who has also scored nine goals.
Both teams have been involved in high-scoring encounters recently. Newcastle’s home games have featured several goals, with nine of their last ten EFL Cup matches seeing over three goals. Similarly, Brentford has been involved in many high-scoring games, with nine of their last ten fixtures seeing over 2.5 goals.
Prediction
With both teams showing attacking prowess but struggling defensively, the match is expected to be competitive. Brentford is likely to edge out Newcastle, potentially winning 2-1.
