Newcastle Boosts Champions League Hopes with Win Over Leicester

Newcastle coasted to a 3-0 win over Leicester on Monday, boosting their Champions League hopes and condemning the Foxes to an eighth consecutive Premier League defeat without a goal.

Eddie Howe's side, still on a high after winning the League Cup last month, have risen to fifth in the rankings, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea but with a game in hand.

Following excellent performances by English clubs in continental play, fifth place will undoubtedly guarantee a spot in the Champions League next season.

However, after only one season in the Premier League, Ruud van Nistelrooy's woeful club is relegated to the Championship.

 The visitors led 2-0 in the 11th minute thanks to two goals from Jacob Murphy, the second a tap-in from close range after Fabian Schar's ambitious effort struck the crossbar, and Harvey Barnes added a third before halftime.

 Leicester improved in the second half but could not snap their league goal drought, which dates back to January.

The game's opening moments gave the long-suffering home fans false optimism when Jamie Vardy tested Nick Pope in the visitors' goal.

Newcastle went ahead in the second minute when Tino Livramento squared for Murphy to tap in after an onslaught down the left.

Minutes later, Schar, spying goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off his line, came close to scoring from within his half.

His shot bounced off the crossbar and landed at the feet of Murphy, the only player to react.

The game was gone before halftime when former Leicester City midfielder Barnes scored from close range after Hermansen saved Joelinton, but he refused to celebrate.

Van Nistelrooy substituted Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte for Victor Kristiansen and Patson Daka at halftime, and the game became more level in the second half, but Leicester struggled to create an impression.

 The home crowd rejoiced when 15-year-old Jeremy Monga entered the game late, becoming the second-youngest Premier League player.

 Newcastle, whose fortunes have changed since a Saudi-funded purchase in 2021, is looking forward to another season in the Champions League despite failing to go past the group stage in the 2023/24 season -- after two decades.

Howe, who led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 56 years against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium last month, now has the opportunity to cap off a remarkable season.

However, the battle is close, with only six points separating third-placed Nottingham Forest and seventh-placed Aston Villa.

After serving as temporary manager at Manchester United, Van Nistelroy joined the King Power Stadium in November, but performances plummeted following a promising start.

The shock  The 2016 Premier League champions are almost expected to be joined in the second tier by Ipswich, who were promoted last season.

Southampton are the only team whose relegation has been confirmed.