Leicester‘s doomed campaign took another desperate turn on Monday after they slipped to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle.
Any faint hopes the Foxes had about staying in the Premier League are now all but extinguished with 17th-placed Wolves now 15 points ahead with only seven games remaining.
Supporters feared the worst after promotion last summer when manager Enzo Maresca and best player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall left for Chelsea amid Profitability and Sustainability concerns. It has been worse than even the most pessimistic of fans could have anticipated.
Steve Cooper’s dismissal in November now looks disastrous as Leicester were hovering just above the drop-zone at that point. Cooper’s replacement, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has overseen a slide into the bottom three.
Here are nine damning stats which highlight Leicester’s plight (and an extra one at the end that really hurts):
1. Leicester are the first club in English football history to go eight home games without a point or goal
The Foxes scored five goals and picked up four points in Van Nistelrooy’s opening two games at the King Power, but have since failed to score from any of their 81 shots in eight subsequent losses.
2. Van Nistelrooy is only the second Premier League manager to lose eight consecutive home games
Daniel Farke lost eight during his spell in charge of Norwich City, although those losses were spread out across two different seasons. With champions-elect Liverpool the next visitors to the King Power, the Dutchman is likely to make more unwanted history…
"Far too easily!"
Boos all around the King Power as Jacob Murphy gives Newcastle an early lead
pic.twitter.com/fxi3vC4vS5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 7, 2025
3. Only Crystal Palace have failed to score in more consecutive Premier League matches than Leicester
The Eagles went nine games without scoring in the 1994-95 season and Leicester will match that decades-long record if they fail to score away at Brighton on Saturday.
4. Only Paul Jewell and Mick McCarthy picked up fewer points than Van Nistelrooy in their first 18 Premier League matches
Van Nistelrooy has taken just seven points from his first 18 games in charge of the Foxes, a record only worsened by Paul Jewell (four) with Derby County and Mick McCarthy (five) with Sunderland. Derby recorded the lowest points tally in Premier League history (with 11), while Sunderland ended on 19.
5. Steve Cooper earned more points than Van Nistelrooy in six fewer games in charge
Appointing a Nottingham Forest hero was an unpopular move and Cooper was sacked after putting 10 points on the board after 12 games. Leicester have added just seven to that in 18 games under his successor.
6. Leicester have gone over 13 hours without scoring a Premier League goal
A total of 830 minutes have passed since Bilal El Khannous scored the winner against Spurs at the end of January. Foxes fans could have watched TV shows Adolescence and the entire third series of White Lotus in that time and still had 90 minutes to spare.
7. Leicester have conceded in the opening two minutes three times in their last eight matches
"Far too easily!"
Boos all around the King Power as Jacob Murphy gives Newcastle an early lead
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 7, 2025
The old adage of keeping things tight early on has been roundly ignored. Leicester have developed an unwanted habit of conceding almost instantly. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Jack Grealish and Jacob Murphy have all netted against them inside two minutes.
8. Leicester have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League since Van Nistelrooy was appointed
Despite having one of the best strikers of his generation in charge, Leicester have managed just nine goals during Van Nistelrooy’s tenure. Southampton, whose relegation has already been confirmed, have the second-worst record in that period with 13.
9. Leicester are the only Premier League club not to keep a clean sheet since Van Nistelrooy was appointed
Even Southampton have managed one.
Here’s a Brucie Bonus to finish off:
Van Nistelrooy has won as many games against Leicester (2) as he has Premier League wins with them this season
The Dutchman presided over a 5-2 victory in the Carabao Cup and 3-0 win in the Premier League during his interim spell in charge of Manchester United.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/x7NLr0I
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