Opta stats on Newcastle v Leicester:
Newcastle have lost their last three Premier League games against Leicester by an aggregate score of 0-7 – they’d only lost three of their previous 17 against them in the division (W9 D5).
Leicester have won just two of their last 17 league visits to St James’ Park (D1 L14), though their last such visit ended in a 3-0 victory in November 2015.
Since winning 3-0 against Stoke on September 16, only West Brom (0) have won fewer Premier League games than Newcastle (1).
The Magpies haven’t failed to score in three consecutive home Premier League matches since February 2014 (a run of four).
Dwight Gayle has scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Magpies since his debut in August 2016, nine more than any other Newcastle player.
Gayle has lost both Premier League matches in which he’s scored this season – only Leicester’s Jamie Vardy has lost more matches in which he’s scored (3).
Jamie Vardy is one goal away from becoming the first Leicester City player to hit 50 Premier League goals. If he does score against Newcastle, he’ll be the 12th quickest English player to hit that milestone in the Premier League (currently on 120 apps).
Rafael Benitez has never lost three consecutive home Premier League matches as a manager – this is his first home Premier League match in December since 2012, when his Chelsea side won 8-0 against Aston Villa.
Claude Puel, meanwhile, is aiming to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time as a manager – the Frenchman last won three league matches in a row as Nice manager in March 2016.
Shinji Okazaki scored in both fixtures the last time these sides met in 2015-16, making Newcastle the only team he’s scored in more than one game against in the Premier League.