Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Leicester City and Newcastle United.

At the start of the season, this match looked like your regular run-of-the-mill fixture in the Premier League with both teams having ambitions to feature in mid-table. However, over the course of eight months, both clubs find themselves locked in unexpected battles at opposite ends of the table, and when you throw the Rafael Benitez factor into the equation, you have yourselves quite a match!

If it wasn't for another turbulent week in the life of Newcastle United football club, most of the attention would be on Leicester this evening. They continue to surprise and impress everyone with their performances and results at the top of the standings and victory tonight would put them five points clear of second-place Tottenham Hotspur. However, Benitez signing a contract at St James' Park is a huge coup for the Magpies and the Spaniard is aware that he must deliver instant results in order to give the North-East giants the best possible chance of survival.

The team news is out at the King Power Stadium. What changes, if any, have been made by either manager?

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Schwarzer, Wasilewski, Amartey, Inler, Gray, Schlupp, Ulloa

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Colback; Sissoko, Anita, Shelvey, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Darlow, Sterry, Saivet, Townsend, De Jong, Riviere, Doumbia

Unsurprisingly, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has selected the same team that started the 1-0 victory against Watford. There had been a slight doubt over Riyad Mahrez, but he is included in the side.

As for Newcastle, Benitez has opted to make just the two alterations to the team that lost 3-1 at home to Bournemouth, which is a surprise. One change was inevitable, with Vurnon Anita replacing the injured Paul Dummett, while Aleksandar Mitrovic has also come into the team instead of Emmanuel Riviere.

It means that Newcastle fans will again have to wait to see Seydou Doumbia. There was so much excitement when he joined the club in January but he has played about half hour. There has to be more to his non-selection! On the positive side, Andros Townsend is fit enough to return to the substitutes' bench. He could prove to be a key introduction for the Magpies late in the match.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's meeting will represent the 120th time that the two teams have met in a competitive match. Leicester have won the last three fixtures without conceding a goal, but before that Newcastle had put together a nine-match unbeaten streak lasting 14 years! Overall, Newcastle have won 51 times, compared to 41 wins for the Foxes.

REVERSE FIXTURE! In the reverse fixture in November, it was one-way traffic in Leicester's favour. Goals from Jamie Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki earned the Foxes a dominant win at St James' Park. I'm sure that they would settle for a repeat performance this evening.

FA CUP DRAW! Both teams were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round, but I'm sure you are curious about the semi-final draw. Take a look by clicking here.

So what would maximum points mean for either side? It's well-documented that Leicester can regain their five-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur, but a win is equally as important to Newcastle. I'm sure that Benitez would take a draw if he were offered it, but that would not be enough to move the Magpies out of the relegation zone. Victory would, however - they would go two points clear of Sunderland ahead of the derby on Sunday afternoon.

It has been suggested that Leicester may falter under the pressure and expectation that has grew heavier on their shoulders since the turn of the year, but it has been 10 league matches since they last suffered defeat at the King Power Stadium. Only an Arsenal side inspired by Alexis Sanchez have beat the Foxes on their home turf, which highlights the size of Newcastle's task tonight. You can multiply that by 10 when you take into account that only Aston Villa have a worse away record than Newcastle - just seven points and seven goals have been recorded in 14 outings...

It's equally as bleak for Newcastle when we take a look at the form table. They have lost five of their last six games, leaving them in 17th position, while Leicester are joint top alongside Liverpool, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

We are just 15 minutes away from seeing Benitez back in the Premier League, but what was his record like at Liverpool and Chelsea? In 254 matches, he won 141 times and registered 61 draws. That's an average points tally of 1.91 per game. He was obviously at clubs of higher stature but that's a very impressive record over a long period.

PREDICTION! You know already that we can only back one side in this match. Newcastle's player should produce a reaction under a new manager, but it shouldn't be enough to halt Leicester, who will expect to record a convincing win in front of a set of supporters who are riding a crest of a wave right now.

The two managers are delivering their final team-talks. If you were Ranieri or Benitez, what would you be saying to your side right now?

Benitez is talking to Gokhan Inler in the tunnel. The pair worked together at Napoli. I'd say that there's a transfer to be made if Newcastle stay in the Premier League.

Leicester get the game underway in the East Midlands!

Just 10 seconds in, there is a mix-up between Schmeichel and Morgan, but the goalkeeper clears just before Sissoko can get a foot on the ball. Sissoko sprinted around 50 yards to get the ball - I didn't see that kind of commitment once in the Bournemouth match...

CHANCE! Newcastle are bag up for this. Wijnaldum closes down the defender before the ball can be cleared and it falls to Perez inside the penalty area. However, he slices the ball wide from eight yards. Very fast start from the visitors.

SHOT! Newcastle create another chance! Sissoko's cross is controlled by Mitrovic, but when the ball finds its way to Colback on the left-hand side of the penalty area, he hits the ball wide of the near post.

Leicester just haven't got going so far and Newcastle manage to win the first corner of the game. It comes to nothing, but the Magpies have certainly set their stall out here.

The home side have their first spell of possession since kickoff but it ends with Mahrez committing the foul. Still, they have at least stifled Newcastle, who were growing in confidence.

The Leicester supporters are trying to lift their side, but they are being left frustrated by a number of high balls and crosses only finding a Newcastle defender. Benitez will be delighted with this start. Ranieri not so much.

Vardy finally gets on the ball and runs towards the Newcastle defence, but he is out-muscled by Janmaat, who sends the forward to the ground and gets the ball clear. There are optimistic shouts for a penalty, but the referee made the right call.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Newcastle, but it would have taken some header to beat Schmeichel. Perez delivered the cross from the right and found Sissoko, but he was always stretching to meet the ball and it went harmlessly wide.

After 19 minutes, Leicester finally get an effort on goal. An outswinging corner finds Huth, who gets ahead of Lascelles to meet the ball, but his header from 12 yards is always going over the crossbar. It wasn't too far away, though.

Benitez has been stalking the touchline since the first whistle and he is perfectly placed to lift Perez back to his feet after a tackle. He's really making sure that his new team don't slack off after this solid start. They have been the better side.

Disaster for Newcastle and relief for Leicester! A floated ball towards the back post is won by Vardy, and the ball falls kindly to Okazaki, who sends an over-head kick into the corner from around eight yards out. Elliot had no chance.

CHANCE! Leicester come so close to a second! Albrighton collects the ball around 45 yards out and runs at the Newcastle defence. Taylor is hesitant and it allows the winger to try to curl a shot into the bottom corner but it goes inches wide. Newcastle are rocking now.

CHANCE! It has been all Leicester since the goal, but Newcastle should have equalised here. A neat piece of play concludes with Wijnaldum dinking the ball over the Foxes defence but Sissoko and Mitrovic get in each other's way and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Newcastle have responded well to going behind, but Leicester look a threat every time they are in possession. A quick one-two on the edge of the box doesn't come off on this occasion but they are pushing for a second and Newcastle simply cannot afford to concede again before half time.

Newcastle enjoy a sustained spell of possession but it ends in calamitous fashion when Janmaat thinks it is a good idea to try a volley from 35 yards. It goes high over the crossbar. Rafa is not amused.

There has been just one shot on target in this match and that's the goal. I'm sure Leicester will be happy for that to remain the case through until full time.

SHOT! After a drab few minutes, Newcastle come to life through Perez but his curling effort from 20 yards is straight at Schmeichel. There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Shinji Okazaki's over-head kick is the difference between Leicester and Newcastle. The visitors look better under Benitez, but they failed to build on what was a promising start to the game.

Both teams are making their way back out for the second half. It is going to be interesting to see how Newcastle react to Benitez's team talk. He has plenty of options on the bench.

Leicester have got the game back underway.

Colback and Sissoko try to double up on Mahrez, but it only ends with the winger buying a foul out of Sissoko in a threatening position on the byline. Albrighton's set piece is directed towards Huth but the defender gets in his way.

We are only five minutes or so into this second half but the game is already showing signs of opening up. I'm not too sure who that suits! Both sides are having possession in the final third but so far, the crosses into the middle are poor.

Vardy wins a free kick out of Janmaat on the edge of the area. I have to say it's a really harsh one at that. Fuchs and Mahrez are both taking a big interest in taking it...

For some reason, the ball is rolled to Fuchs, rather than someone taking a shot. It allows the Newcastle defence time to get out to react to the ball and the left-back's shot is blocked.

SUBSTITUTION! Benitez isn't hanging about with his substitutions. Andros Townsend has been introduced in place of Anita. His arrival is greeted with a loud roar from the travelling support.

Deary me! Sissoko gets in behind the Leicester defence in the right-back position but by biding his time, he allows the Leicester backline to get back and his shot is blocked. That was a HUGE opportunity.

Despite that chance being wasted, Newcastle have remained on the front foot, and after a spell of possession in and around the penalty area and with men forward, Perez fires a shot into the side-netting from 20 yards. Schmeichel could have been struggling with that had it of been on target.

SUBSTITUTION! Newcastle's spell in control has resulted in Ranieri making a chance. Jeffrey Schlupp is on for Okazaki. That could mean Mahrez moving into the middle.

You'd have to say that Leicester have been below par this evening, but they are still winning. It's these kind of matches that can prove the difference at the end of the campaign. The Foxes almost create a chance through Schlupp, but his shot is blocked. That is as good as it has got the Foxes since the restart.

SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Siem De Jong to enter the fray. He has replaced Perez. Still no Doumbia...

SUBSTITUTION! Ulloa is on for Leicester for the final 15 minutes, with Albrighton making way. It's an interesting change, and it's likely to see Vardy moved out to the right. There haven't been any chances to speak of during the last five minutes.

Newcastle win a set piece on the left flank, but Shelvey's delivery is easily headed away by a Leicester defender. They get a second chance to get the ball into the box on the opposite flank but the ball ends up going out for a goal kick.

A long throw from Fuchs causes all kind of trouble for Elliot in the Newcastle goal, but he is able to grab hold of the ball at the second opportunity. Ulloa was lurking behind him. Ten minutes to go...

SHOT! Townsend hasn't done much since his introduction but his cross with his weaker right foot causes problems in the Leicester penalty area. However, Sissoko's sweetly-struck volley is blocked and the home side clear.

SUBSTITUTION! Benitez finally decides to throw Doumbia into the action in place of Shelvey. He has four minutes plus injury time to make a difference.

A surging run from Drinkwater and a shot from Mahrez come to nothing. Leicester aren't holding back here, though. Ranieri is trying to get the supporters shouting louder for his side. I don't think they need any encouragement, Claudio!

There will be three minutes of added-on time. Leicester have the ball in the corner.

Mahrez breaks forward for Leicester but despite having options to his left and right, he decides to shoot without any success.

The full-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester have comfortably held on to record a narrow win over Newcastle. The Magpies remained in the contest until the end but they never came close to finding an equaliser and they remain in the bottom three. Leicester, on the other hand, regain their five-point lead at the top and they require 20 points from their last eight games to guarantee the title.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but thank you for joining us. Goodbye for now!