Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
It’s a while ago for the rest of us, but for Leicester fans, any opportunity to relive their incredible Premier League triumph of 2016 is gleefully accepted.
Who can blame them? It was the biggest story in world football, and the Foxes have drifted back into mid-table life since then. But the visit of Spurs on Saturday will bring the memories flooding back, as it was Mauricio Pochettino’s team which bottled it in the run-in to hand Leicester the title.
This season, the league is already beginning to take shape. Manchester City and Liverpool are forging ahead, and then there is a six-point gap to a chasing group of three, headed up by Spurs. A further eight points back from those three there is a larger pack of eight teams containing Leicester City, Manchester United and Everton.
So the Foxes’ realistic aspirations are to challenge for that sixth place and that Europa League spot.
The Premier League 2018 betting odds have just placed Spurs as the favourites to finish in third place, marginally ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea. So that’s developing into a fascinating tussle between London’s three giants for two Champions League places, and Spurs will have to be at their best to stay ahead in that race.
Talking Points
Can the Foxes qualify for Europe again?
Claude Puel is fashioning an impressive side at the King Power Stadium, and you’d have to say it’s not much weaker than the excellent 2016 team. Okay, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante have gone. But in James Maddison, Leicester have a creative player with the potential to go to the very top. Maddison scored the equaliser in a 1-1 away draw at Fulham in midweek when the Foxes met up with the manager who guided them to the League win. Claudio Ranieri has been drafted in to save the Cottagers, but he’ll always have a special place in the heart of Leicester fans.
Wilfred Ndidi has a way to go reach the heights of Kante but he is quickly improving as an imposing presence in the middle of the park. And I’d argue with England internationals Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire at the back, alongside the excellent Ricardo Periera and experienced Jonny Evans, the backline is stronger than the title winners’. The current Premier League top five are clearly better set up than they were back in 2016, but I see no reason why Leicester can’t challenge strongly for that sixth place.
The Foxes have a goal threat, scoring in every Premier League fixture this season bar one: the emotional return to the King Power after the terrible helicopter crash which claimed five lives, including beloved owner Vichai. The Foxes drew 0-0 with Burnley that day but could have been out of sight by halftime.
This is a huge week for Spurs
With this tough game against the Foxes followed up by a visit to Barcelona on Tuesday night, these next four days could shape Spurs fans’ moods throughout the festive season. They somehow have to beat the Catalans to progress in the Champions League and, with Arsenal at home to Huddersfield on Saturday, they probably have to win in Leicester to hold on to third place.
Losing to the Gunners in a pulsating North London Derby was a serious blow to Spurs, not just in terms of bragging rights but also in momentum. That match was one of the Premier League 2018 highlights of the season so far, which is little consolation to Spurs, but they dusted themselves off to beat Southampton in midweek.
Harry Kane made it nine Premier League goals to date after scoring in that win, while Lucas Moura bagged his fifth after a quiet period.
Toby Alderweireld was back in defence, with Jan Vertonghen suspended, and Pochettino has a decision to make. Should he stick with his young protégé Juan Foyth or go for the tried and tested pairing of Alderweireld and Vertonghen? I’d go for the latter.
History
Interestingly, Leicester have the upper hand in head-to-heads in the Premier League era, winning 12 of these meetings to Spurs’ ten, and there have been six draws.
The last clash at the end of the 2017/2018 season was an absolute belter, with Spurs recovering from a 1-3 deficit to win 5-4. That victory confirmed a third place for the Lilywhites, the position they currently occupy and hope to hold on to.
The corresponding fixture at the King Power Stadium was a 2-1 win for the Foxes, but that was their only win in the last five meetings with Spurs. The Foxes haven’t lost in their last seven games, but their two home defeats this season have come at the hands of Liverpool and Everton, two top-seven teams.
Spurs have won seven and drawn two of their away games this season.
Betting Tip
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Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur | Leicester City Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.95 |
| December 9, 03:45 (GMT+8) |
Spurs are at 2.03 to win the game, and as a top-three side are worthy favourites, but this is about as tough as it gets in the chasing pack. Leicester are on a consistent run and are hard to beat, particularly on home soil. I think three points for the visitors will be very hard to come by.
Leicester are at 2.46 with SBOBET to score the first goal, and with Maddison in fine form, a fast start from the Foxes could reap benefits.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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