Newcastle United put Leicester City to the sword with a commanding 4-0 victory at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon, emphatically ending their four-game winless run in the Premier League.
Newcastle were in control from the outset and were finally rewarded for their dominance when Jacob Murphy, having missed a huge opportunity just moments prior, redeemed himself with a composed side-footed finish from a brilliantly executed short corner, marking just their third goal inside 30 minutes in the Premier League this season.
The Magpies flew out of the blocks for the second half, scoring two goals in quick succession with Bruno Guimaraes doubling the lead after another superbly worked set-piece, followed just moments later when Alexander Isak nodded home from close range after a flying counterattack from Newcastle, all but confirming the three points.
The scoring did not stop there, though, as Eddie Howe's men rubbed salt in Leicester's wounds with a fourth on the hour mark, another blistering counter-attack that saw Murphy add his second of the afternoon, a goal that epitomized the Foxes' erratic defending at times this campaign.
The crushing 4-0 victory sees Newcastle climb into 11th in the table with 23 points, now just two outside the top five, while Leicester suffer their first defeat under Ruud van Nistelrooy and sit 16th with 14 points, two above the drop zone.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Newcastle United finally showed what they are capable of today, securing their biggest win of the 2024-25 season with an emphatic 4-0 victory over a toothless Leicester side.
Gordon, Isak and Murphy have all faced criticism at times this year for having slow starts to the campaign, but they were sensational today, constantly combining and causing havoc in the final third, including scoring three of Newcastle's four goals.
That victory could be hugely important for the Magpies, ending their four-game winless run just before facing a run of fixtures that includes Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, games that could determine whether they return to the European places at the end of this season or not.
As for Leicester, it was a shocking performance that highlighted their defensive frailties this season, bringing their goals-against tally to 34, only Wolves, with 40, have conceded more, and they are set to face them next time out.
NEWCASTLE UNITED VS. LEICESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
30th min: Newcastle United 1-0 Leicester City (Jacob Murphy)
© Imago
Newcastle finally have the breakthrough, Murphy with a wonderfully taken goal!
The hosts take a short corner and eventually work the ball to Anthony Gordon, who drives into the box before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area to Murphy.
Murphy arrives to meet the ball just inside the box and superbly side-foots his effort through the gap of Leicester defenders and into the bottom right corner, a wonderfully composed finish.
47th min: Newcastle United 2-0 Leicester City (Bruno Guimaraes)
© Imago
Guimaraes heads in to double Newcastle's lead!
Gordon delivers a cross from a free kick towards the back post, where Lewis Hall has found space and heads the ball back across goal in an attempt to find a teammate.
Guimaraes is one of many Newcastle players lining up to put home, but the midfielder rises highest to head into the back of the net and double Newcastle's lead.
50th min: Newcastle United 3-0 Leicester City (Alexander Isak)
© Imago
Newcastle have scored again, Isak this time with the header!
The Magpies race forward through Gordon down the left, with the winger driving towards the box before playing a pass into the path of the overlapping Hall.
Hall attempts to chip his cross into the middle, but it only reaches the front post, where Conor Coady's clearance is miscued and sliced to the back post, allowing Isak to nod it home.
60th min: Newcastle United 4-0 Leicester City (Jacob Murphy)
© Imago
Murphy adds a fourth for Newcastle, his second of the afternoon!
Another blistering counter sees Gordon receive the ball on the left, cleverly playing it through the legs of his marker and into the path of Isak.
Isak turned Jannik Vestergaard inside and out before cutting inside and passing to Murphy, who was in acres of space on the right, and the winger drove into the box before firing low and hard and into the back of the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ANTHONY GORDON
© Imago
Gordon was one of many players who could have been given the man of the match award, but the winger deserves his flowers for playing a major role in almost every bit of joy that Newcastle had in the final third.
The winger came close to finding the breakthrough on numerous occasions before finally assisting Murphy's opener, while he also delivered the free kick for the second and started the counter in the fourth.
Isak and Murphy made up a front three full of goals, with three of the four being scored by the front line, but Gordon was the standout performer yet again for the Magpies.
NEWCASTLE UNITED VS. LEICESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Newcastle United 59%-41% Leicester City
Shots: Newcastle United 27-4 Leicester City
Shots on target: Newcastle United 11-1 Leicester City
Corners: Newcastle United 5-2 Leicester City
Fouls: Newcastle United 7-15 Leicester City
BEST STATS
G/A this PL season:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 14, 2024
5 — Anthony Gordon
4 — Leandro Trossard pic.twitter.com/Tx223YvPRG
WHAT NEXT?
Newcastle's attention will now turn to battling for their first major trophy since their 1954-55 FA Cup triumph as they face Brentford in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Leicester will be afforded an eight-day break before they continue their battle against the drop with a crucial matchup against fellow relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers next Sunday.
Ellis Stevens
