Leicester City’s battle for Premier League safety is going down to the final game of the season – after the Foxes were able to steal a point at St James’ Park on Monday night.
A 0-0 draw with Newcastle away from home now means that Leicester still have everything to play for in the final match of the season, with two other sides fighting for Premier League safety alongside the Midlands outfit.
The final two relegation places go down to the final day in the Premier League… 😬 pic.twitter.com/JNWyEbrBov
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 22, 2023
Newcastle spent most of Monday’s game camped in the Leicester half but, despite a constant barrage of attacks for 90 minutes, the Foxes were able to hold on for a crucial point that could end up keeping them in the Premier League this season.
With Leeds snapping at their heels and Everton just ahead of Leicester in 17th, Dean Smith’s side will have to win their final match of the season against West Ham and hope that other results go their way if they are to stay in England’s top division next season.
The opposition
Facing Leicester in their final game of the season is West Ham, who will make the trip to the King Power this Sunday on the last weekend of the Premier League season.
West Ham have won just two of their last five league matches and, with a UEFA Conference League final to contend with at the beginning of June, the Hammers could rest a whole host of their usual starters in a match that has little meaning to the side.
Even if Leicester can take three points off West Ham, they will have to hope that Everton lose against Bournemouth in their final match of the season to leapfrog the Toffees out of the relegation zone.
Relegation is OUT of Leicester City's hands! ❌
It goes down to the final day 📉 pic.twitter.com/H5QS2G6jdU
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 22, 2023
Bournemouth have lost three of their last five league games but, having already exceeded everyone’s expectations in their return to the Premier League, the Cherries will be looking to end their season on a high with a good performance at Goodison Park.
What the fans have to say
Leicester fans have suffered through a long season and, with just one game left of the 2022-23 campaign, things are looking bleak for the loyal Foxes contingent.
One fan who was at the game in Newcastle last night was Mitchell Stringer, who still has hope for the season despite the challenging position his side are in.
Mitchell said: “Nobody was expecting us to get a point at Newcastle, I know it’s not three points but it gives us something to play for in the final game of the season.
“Yeah of course I still have hope, it’s the Premier League and you just never know….. I do think Bournemouth can do a job for us against Everton, it’s just about whether the boys can get over the line against West Ham.
Thank you for your support tonight, Blue Army 👏 pic.twitter.com/j4sPqsCSW3
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 22, 2023
“Obviously we have to show them respect, they are European finalists this season at the end of the day. Hopefully the final will be on their minds a lot and maybe [David] Moyes will rest a couple of players like Declan Rice or Jarrod Bowen against us just to keep them safe.”
Leicester fans know more than most just how unpredictable the Premier League can be, so it is certainly too early to condemn them to Championship football next season – with a huge 90 minutes left to play at the King Power on Sunday.
