Leicester move five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to Shinji Okazaki's wonderful overhead kick. They looked a bit edgy at times during that, but Claudio Ranieri's side take another decisive step towards the title.

Newcastle United meanwhile remain second from bottom ahead of Sunday's crucial derby with Sunderland.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 1-0 Newcastle United

The ball breaks nicely in midfield for Mahrez and he can drive on with Vardy and Drinkwater breaking to either side to him. From about 5 yards out, he decides to take the shot on but his effort flies well wide.

Three minutes of time added on. Leicester are hanging on a bit, they have looked edgy throughout this half but if they can keep the ball in the corner as they are doing at the minute, they will be five points clear at the top again.

Drinkwater surges upfield brilliantly, relieving the pressure on his side and creating in attack in the process. He is eventually halted, but Mahrez gets it back and looks to open up and shoot like he did here against Chelsea, but his effort is blocked.

The ball now breaks foe De Jong in the box after a fine ball from Janmaat but he miss hits it and a tame effort is easily collected by the Leicester goalkeeper.

Vardy does well to shield the ball again and is clattered into for Shelvey for his trouble. It sees the free kick given to his side and Leicester can breathe for a moment, they are under pressure at the minute.

Townsend whips a wicked ball in from the right that loops clean over Schmeichel, leaving the Dane stranded. It breaks to Sissoko who lashes one on goal only to see it blocked by Huth? Was it with a hand? Newcastle scream it did, but play is waved on and Leicester clear.

Another big throw in from Fuchs causes havoc in the Newcastle box and Elliot is rather lucky as he collects at the second time of asking with Vardy lurking.

Just over 10 minutes of the contest remaining. It's been a pretty poor affair here, but Leicester won't mind too much if they get the three points needed to lift them five points clear again.

Here's a change for Leicester now with Albrighton to be replaced by Leonardo Ulloa.

Kante impeccably gets back again to usher out an overhit pass intended for Janmaat. The midfielder has enjoyed another tremendous game.

Another change for Newcastle, Siem de Jong replaces Perez.

This has all got a bit tame at the moment. Janmaat tries to pick out a teammate from the right but flings a cross straight into Schmeichel's arms.

Albrighton saves Leicester! Sissoko is fed the ball over the top down the inside left with Huth playing him on side and he has all the time to try and pick out the far corner. Instead, he slides it across to Townsend which is anticipated brilliantly by Albrighton who gets across in time to block. What a chance for Newcastle.

First change of the evening with Andros Townsend replaces Vurnon Anita.

Fuchs take it but the Newcastle wall stands strong and deflects clear.

Elliot just about pushes Alrbighton's cross away but Leicester keep the pressure on. Morgan, of all people, tries to dance his way into the box but has his effort blocked. Again, Newcastle can't clear properly and Vardy does well to shield the ball and win another free kick from Janmaat right on the edge of the box.

Mahrez takes on Sissoko and Colback down the left and beats them both, winning a free kick just a meter our so outside the box.

And Newcastle get us back underway for the second half.

Shinji Okazaki's wonderful overhead effort is the difference here at half-time. It's been a bit better from Newcastle, but still not good enough. Leicester haven't really had to get into the gear they have been operating at this season but they have shown no sign of nerves yet tonight and are heading towards another win as it stands.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 1-0 Newcastle United

Perez shows good feet to bring a pass under control and move it inside his marker before trying his luck with a curling effort, but it is easily saved by Schmeichel

Three minutes of this half remaining. The last 10 minutes have been really poor, lots of poor passes and questionable first touches. It is as quiet as the King Power Stadium has sounded all season.

Colback fails to control a ball, inviting Albrighton to run towards goal but he shows too much of it to the former Sunderland man, allowing him a reprieve.

Sissoko and Mitrovic crash into each other inside the six yard area! A shambles from the away side, the latter was ready to pull the trigger before his teammate impeded him.

Almost a second for the Foxes! Steven Taylor hesitates as Albrighton bursts through onto Vardy's precise pass, twisting and turning before taking the shot on but it flies just wide of the far post.

Leicester are at it again! From a free kick swung in the right, Mitrovic clears but only as far as Albrighton swings it straight back in. Another poor attempt to clear invites Vardy to steam in and head it back across goal to Okazaki, who shows brilliant improvisation to connect with a brilliant overhead kick to beat Elliot in the Newcastle goal.

Goal! Leicester City 1-0 Newcastle United, Okazaki, 24)

Mitrovic is slipped through by Perez but Huth follows his run, putting the Newcastle striker under enough pressure that sees him dribble a poor shot past the far post.

Huth meets the corner but nuts his header well over the bar.

Mahrez does his thing, dancing in from the right onto his left foot. He drops a shoulder to open up space for the shot and whips it for the far post, only for a deflection to take it wide.

Perez swings a tremendous ball in from the left for Sissoko to leap onto. The Frenchman makes up some tremendous ground to reach the ball in the first place, but appears to meet it with his fist as he sends it wide.

This is much better from Leicester now, Kante's presence in midfield has grown considerably and he is now winning everything in midfield again before shifting it up to one of his teammates who look to carve the away side open.

Vardy switches up a gear and accelerates towards the Newcastle defence. Janmaat comes together with the Leicester striker, bundling him over in the process, but the referee waves away appeals for a penalty.

Mahrez finds space very nicely to slide a ball out for Drinkwater who looks for Vardy in the middle with an inviting cross, but a Newcastle head nuts it clear.

Leicester have looked a bit ragged so far; Albrighton tries to change it with a bursting run down the left with Janmaat out of position but Newcastle cut it out for a throw in.

Shelvey's delivery come back out to him and he decides to let it run out for another corner. Unfortunately for him, the linesman judges that to have come back off a Newcastle player and it is a goal kick.

Newcastle have started very well here and have won a corner for themselves now.

Newcastle come again as Mitrovic sees his effort charged down only for Colback to get onto the rebound. From a tough angle, he looks for the far corner but fires his effort wide of the top corner.

Wijnaldum receives the ball from Mitrovic and scampers into the box before the ball breaks kindly for Perez, but the Spaniard can't find the composure to bend it into the far corner.

A big throw in from Fuchs almost falls nicely for Vardy inside the six yard area but Elliot gathers the loose ball.

Wes Morgan scampers back to retrieve a loose ball, inviting Moussa Sissoko to chase it down. Kasper Schmeichel is forced to scamper out to clear it and is almost closed down by the Frenchman.

And Leicester get us started.

Just over five minutes from kick off at the King Power Stadium. If they win tonight and remain undefeated in the next 630 minutes of Premier League football, they will be crowned champions.

Jack Colback starts at left-back meanwhile to replace the injured Paul Dummett. Other changes seer Mitrovic come in up front, while Vurnon Anita starts in midfield.

Jonjo Shelvey holds onto the captain's armband in what is Rafa Benitez's first game in charge of Newcastle United.

BREAKING: It is as you would expect from Claudio Ranieri this evening, Riyhad Mahrez has recovered from that minor hamstring strain and joins Okazaki and Vardy in attack.

Leicester team to face Newcastle: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan (c), Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy

Subs: Schwarzer, Wasilewski, Amartey, Inler, Gray, Schlupp, Ulloa

BREAKING: Aleksander Mitrovic starts up front in Rafa Benitez's first game in charge of Newcastle United.

Newcastle can leap above Sunderland and out of the relegation zone if they can pick up three points this evening and leave a sizeable dent in Leicester 's title hopes.

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle United: Rafa Benitez will make late decisions on Fabricio Coloccini and Andres Townsend, who are doubts with respective calf and hamstring problems, ahead of kick off.

TEAM NEWS

Leicester City: Riyard Mahrez scored another wonderful goal to secure the points against Watford last time out but hearts were in Leicester mouths shortly after when he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem. Thankfully for the Foxes, it turned out to be nothing serious and the Algerian is fit to start tonight. Claudio Ranieri has no other major injury concerns.

Tottenham Hotspur's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa saw them reduce the gap between themselves and Leicester City to just two points. What once looked like a certain three points against Newcastle United now isn't looking like quite the formality it did last week for the Foxes; following the arrival for Rafa Benitez on Tyneside on Friday.

Newcastle are just a point off the bottom of the league; they need the former Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss to work some magic very quickly. A credible performance against the league leaders would be a positive start, a point or more would be an excellent one.

Next Sunday's derby with Sunderland and a trip to Norwich City in their following game will have a much greater say in their Premier League survival bid than tonight's game. But Benitez will learn just how realistic the club's chances of escaping the drop again are at the King Power Stadium.

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