On Saturday, the Magpies could be able to secure a top-four finish without ever kicking a ball.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has warned his team that if they do not defeat Leicester to earn a spot in the Champions League, their emphatic Premier League victory over Brighton will mean nothing.
On Thursday night at St. James' Park, the Magpies withstood a challenge to their chances of finishing in the top four when they held onto a 2-1 lead in the face of a strong Seagulls comeback before finishing the game off to win 4-1.
With two games remaining for both teams, they have moved up to fifth position, four points ahead of Liverpool. If the Reds lose to Aston Villa at home on Saturday or they defeat the Foxes on Tyneside the following day, they will play in the Champions League the next season.
Howe responded when asked to describe the significance of the victory, "It's a massive win for us.
"I know it's a bit of a cliche, but if we don't back it up on Monday night, and that's a really tough game, it won't mean anything. We know we have to duplicate it after today's high and what we gave during the game.
"In the Premier League, nothing is given to you. We must maintain the same level of concentration and mentality as today since we are aware of Leicester's strengths.
Deniz Undav's own goal and a second from Dan Burn gave Newcastle a 2-0 lead at the half, giving them the appearance that they would easily win. Undav, however, quickly made apologies to kickstart a fightback until Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes scored late goals.
Even though Howe's team can no longer finish worse than fifth and is, at the very least, guaranteed a spot in the Europa League, the 45-year-old is refusing to show any signs of excitement.
"Honestly, I don't [get excited]," he admitted. I'm very proud of tonight's performance. I'll watch the game when I get home and, hopefully, I'll be incredibly proud of what I saw and inspired by the players for giving our fans such a fantastic show.
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