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Matchweek 31
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Matchweek 31

Live  Premier League Matchweek 31 - Monday

Alex Smith & Will Murray

Live  Premier League Matchweek 31 - Monday

Alex Smith & Will Murray

NEWCASTLE cruise to 3-0 WIN over LEICESTER

THREE wins in a row for TOON

MAGPIES UP TO FOURTH, level on points with CHELSEA

MURPHY grabs BRACE before BARNES nets against FORMER CLUB

FOXES first PL team to LOSE 8 HOME MATCHES without scoring

VAN NISTELROOY'S side 15 points adrift of 17th 

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Job done, MW done, see you on Friday 👋

 

We’ll be back soon ⏰

That brings a close to MW31 and wow that European race just won’t let up. There’s only one way we’re going to be able to call it… more Premier League football!

Join us from 09:00 BST Friday 11th April where we’ll have all of the pre-match press conferences and talking points prior to another Matchweek full of twists, turns and terrific drama. 

Another Matchweek done ✅

Premier League Table

Pos Pos Club Pl Pl GD Pts Pts
1 Liverpool LIV 36 +46 83
2 Arsenal ARS 36 +33 68
3 Newcastle NEW 36 +23 66
4 Man City MCI 36 +24 65
5 Chelsea CHE 36 +19 63
6 Aston Villa AVL 36 +7 63
7 Nott'm Forest NFO 36 +12 62
8 Brentford BRE 36 +10 55
9 Brighton BHA 36 +3 55
10 Bournemouth BOU 36 +12 53
11 Fulham FUL 36 +1 51
12 Crystal Palace CRY 36 -2 49
13 Everton EVE 36 -5 42
14 Wolves WOL 36 -13 41
15 West Ham WHU 36 -17 40
16 Man Utd MUN 36 -11 39
17 Spurs TOT 36 +4 38
18 Ipswich IPS 36 -42 22
19 Leicester LEI 36 -47 22
20 Southampton SOU 36 -57 12
View More

 

Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy:

"It's clear where it went wrong, very early in the game. We could have done better in all three [goals]. Newcastle finished the game very quickly.

"What is worrying is the run of form, the lack of goals, the lack of results we can't produce. Trying different things, different structures, different players in different positions and the results are not there.

On not scoring for eight successive home games: "It's a confidence thing. In the second half you can see when there is no pressure anymore it frees people up. Then you see some reasonable football. When the pressure is on it becomes very difficult. With an early couple of goals it collapses.

On if he still has the fight to continue at Leicester: "This is a difficult night. It's important to analyse this and to sleep on it. That is it for now. It's dealing with another setback."

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe:

“We are in a good place. Today was always going to be a difficult game but we started so strongly. We didn’t play at our very best but we are playing with a confidence and a feeling that we are in a good place - which we need to be because we have three tough games coming up.

“Murphy has played well all season for us. He has always been a good team player for us and this season he has added more goals and assist to his name. I’m really pleased for him and that he is getting some individual recognition.”

From The Scout:

Heading into Double Gameweek 32, Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) continues to profit from Anthony Gordon’s absence. He’s produced a goal or assist in each of his last three matches.

DOUBLE TROUBLE - Murphy in form of his life ⚽️⚽️

 

Leicester defender James Justin:

"It's hard to describe, to be honest, with how it's been and it makes us feel awful right at the moment. You feel disconnection and disappointment when you step off the pitch. All we can do is give our all for the shirt. It's not been good enough for a couple of months now.

"It's hard to find confidence. I don't know how many games it's been since we last picked up a point. It's a horrible moment for the club with how we're playing on the pitch and trying to regain any confidence. There were bright spells from the lads who came off the bench and that's the one positive to take.

"There is still a chance for us [to stay up] and we have to fight and claw for it but we aren't showing it on the pitch."

 

Newcastle’s two-goal hero Jacob Murphy:

“The message going into it was to get a quick start. We knew that if we could get an early goal then theri fans might have turned on them.

“We always talk about box occupation and whether we can flood the box. [The first goal] was tricky as their was loads of blue shirts in front but I got my foot on it. I don’t know what made me follow the [second goal] in. I thought about a first time finish or control it and by the time I controlled it I managed to score.”

From The Scout:

Jacob Murphy (£5.1m) scores twice and is set to claim maximum bonus for a 16-point return to delight his 384,013 new owners. Only once before in FPL has he returned more points in a game, that was against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 9 last season when he got 17 points.

DOING IT FOR THE FANS - Newcastle have whole city behind them 🌃

 

Marching towards Europe?

Newcastle United have won 11 of their last 15 Premier League matches (L4), starting with a 4-0 win over Leicester City on 14th December; only Liverpool (38) have more points in the competition since then than the Magpies’ 33.

Newcastle goalscorer Harvey Barnes:

"We are going into games at the minute feeling confident we are going to win. That is the mindset we need for the rest of the season. We have a lot to play for and need to keep this run going.

"[Qualifying for Europe would be] huge. That was one of our main aims this season to win silverware which we have done. We made it clear after that we need to reset. There is a lot to play for and we have started that period really well with two wins. We don't want the season now to finish on a downer. We are fully focused.

"We know we are in a good position in the table. All we can do is our job and win our games and we will finish in the top four or five. If we win the games the teams will be chasing us and not us chasing them."

Premier League pundit Owen Hargreaves:

“Confidence and the quality of the players and manager, everything about Newcastle is flying high right now. You want to see them stick together for a bit longer. They can build something really special. With some smart recruitment, they could push the best teams in this country for a long time.”

ARM AROUND THE SHOULDER - Tough intro to the Premier League for Monga

 

Unwanted history

Leicester are the first side in the top four tiers of English football to lose eight successive home league matches without scoring.

Premier League pundit Shay Given:

“These fans are amazing, on a Monday night to travel this far from home in their thousands. Obviously the players put a performance on tonight, Leicester were poor, but take nothing away from the performance, they got off to the perfect start.

“When you look at that table, the hairs on the back of your neck are up. It’s Champions League football next season if they can finish this season on a real high having won a trophy."

BONUS POINTS AS IT STANDS

3 - Murphy
2 - Livramento
1 - Schar

WRITING ON THE WALL - This match was lost within two minutes

 

FULL-TIME Leicester 0-3 Newcastle

More misery for Leicester fans, who've been steadily leaving the stadium since going three goals down in the first half. Eight consecutive home losses without scoring a single goal, an unwanted Premier League record for the Foxes.

Newcastle move up to fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, with a game in hand.

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (90+4 mins)

Harvey Barnes is the middle point of a Newcastle counter attacking trident. He plays it to Callum Wilson on the right who sends it straight back at Barnes. The powerful pass means Barnes can't place his shot, sending it wide. 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (90+1 mins)

Five minutes of added time are announced.

15 JEREMY, THAT'S INSANE - Monga has belied his age

 

SUB Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (87 mins)

Emil Krafth replaces Kieran Trippier. So far, no player has won more duels in this match than Trippier (6).

For the second time this evening, the Newcastle captain's armband is passed on, this time, to Dan Burn. 

KHANNOUSS KICK IT - The Foxes midfielder prepares for a corner

 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (84 mins)

Sandro Tonali feels the force of a full-power challenge from Stephy Mavididi. Physio is on to shepherd Tonali off the pitch. The tackle was completely legal, if a cruncher.

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (81 mins)

Ricardo Pereira intercepts a Callum Wilson pass and looks to play in Jamie Vardy. A series of blocks from the Newcastle defence eventually see it out for a throw-in but the play gives the Leicester fans something to cheer for.

YOUNG AND KEEN - Monga is just 15 and on for his PL debut

 

STAT - Just 10 days in it

Jeremy Monga (15y 271d) is the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League, after only Ethan Nwaneri (15y 181d).

Premier League pundit Marc Albrighton:

"That reception that [Monga] got coming on will do him the world of good. The excitement around this player and what he can bring is fantastic. Now he needs to show everyone what the excitement is all about."

SUBS Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (75 mins)

William Oscula announces his arrival, intercepting a Wout Faes pass, performing a step-over to beat Faes and then shooting over.

Ricardo Pereira and 15-year old Jeremy Monga enter the field of play. Leicester fans cheer the debut of Monga, becoming the second youngest ever Premier League player.

RUUD HEALTH - Things aren't going well for Van Nistelrooy

 

SUBS Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (72 mins)

Alexander Isak has his number pulled. He'll be frustrated to not be amongst the goals but Eddie Howe will want him rested. Callum Wilson comes on, as does William Osula, replacing brace-getting Jacob Murphy.

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (70 mins)

Fabian Schar's pass releases Alexander Isak, playing through Jacob Murphy on the right. Having had to slow his run, Murphy is unable to get a shot off to try claim a hat-trick. He squares the ball but way too powerfully for Lewis Miley to control on the left of the box. 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (68 mins)

Mads Hermansen gifts the ball to Lewis Miley but the youngster skips about to maintain possession under pressure from Wilfred Ndidi. He passes to Fabian Schar who powers a rocket at Hermansen, making a routine save.

STILL FIGHTING - Newcastle haven't added to their lead in the second half

 

SUBS Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (64 mins)

Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff come on for Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes. 

Kieran Trippier takes the captain's armband from Mr. Guimaraes. 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (62 mins)

Newcastle are in the Leicester third in numbers for the first time this half. A Joelinton back-heel, having reached a dead end, feeds Sandro Tonali, but in attempting to tackle the Italian, Facundo Buonanotte has his hand trod on and Leicester win a free-kick.

THE POPE THAT KILLS YOU - The Newcastle keeper lands on a loose ball

 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (58 mins)

Newcastle are seeing the game out comfortably for the time being. They're happy with their foot off the gas.

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (54 mins)

Play is halted with Bruno Guimaraes hit in the face by the flailing arm of Wilfred Ndidi. No malicious intent, no harm done.

Leicester resume play from the dropped ball. 

SECOND HALF COMEBACK? Leicester will hope so

 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (50 mins)

Bilal El Khannouss sends a dangerous pass into the box. Jamie Vardy tries to side-foot it goalwards but ends up mishitting it to Dan Burn, who sends it behind for a corner. 

Facundo Buonanotte recycles the overhit corner but his cross goes out for a goal-kick, helped on by the head of Wilfred Ndidi. 

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (48 mins)

Jamie Vardy bursts through but Nick Pope is able to get to ball first. 

He throws it to Tino Livramento who dribbles half the length of the pitch before James Justin takes him down, receiving a yellow card for the foul. 

SUBS Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (46 mins)

Leicester fans retake their seats and you'd forgive them for expecting the worst. They'll be hoping Ruud van Nistelrooy's substitutions produce some magic.

Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte enter the field of play for the hosts. Victor Kristiansen and Patson Daka are the pair not returning. 

WHICH WAY TO EUROPE? 👈

 

Premier League pundit Shay Given:

"It is all too easy. It is great for Newcastle. But it is a sorry sight to see Leicester fans leaving after 35 minutes. You can imagine the atmosphere in the changing room now, it will be very low.

"Newcastle are joint-fourth and Eddie Howe will be thinking this is a good opportunity to get the goal difference up."

STAT - Deja vu

Leicester have now conceded three goals in the first half in two of their last three home Premier League games, one more than in their previous 21 games in the competition.

Premier League pundit Owen Hargreaves:

On the first goal: "Joelinton is literally on his own. This is just a minute it. We said make it hard not easy. A minute it, I just feel for Ruud. It is the worst start you can possibly have."

STAT - First half bandits

Only Liverpool (4) have scored 3+ goals in the first half of more different Premier League games this season than Newcastle United (3).

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