Leicester City Previews: ‘Nothing but the Huth’
23rd September 2017
Leicester City vs Liverpool
Kick off 3pm
Preview:
“Chance for Vardy to run, and Vardy goes first time… AND SCORES A STUNNER! Leicester’s very own Fantastic Mr.Fox!”
Thank you Clive Tyldesley. When that hit the back of the net, I went berserk. Vardy 2-0 Liverpool.
A wonderful day in the heart of the East Midlands, back in February 2016.
Since then, as the home team, Leicester have a good record against the Merseyside Club. Two out of two so far, with 3-1 and 2-0 victories, making the King Power Stadium somewhat a fortress. Of course, the most recent victory, 2-0, came in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night- a game Liverpool should’ve had won at halftime.
Goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani handed Leicester the win, which in turn, handed them a home tie against Leeds United in the Fourth Round.
Prior to that, both these sides faced each other in pre-season over in Asia, facing each other in the Premier League Asia Trophy. Jurgen Klopp’s men scraped past Leicester, winning 2-1.
A good game in prospect beckons then…
Stats:
Jamie Vardy is the main talisman for goals against Liverpool. The England striker has scored four in his last two Premier League appearances against the Reds–
both goals in the 2-0 win in February 2016, and two goals in the 3-1 victory a year later.
Although, Liverpool do just edge Leicester in the overall Head to Head category. The Reds have won 45 out of 108 games, with the Foxes winning 39, as well as 24 draws in the process.
Liverpool’s biggest win against Leicester came back in 1928, winning by a handsome scoreline of 6-1Â – I think I can let that one slide…
Leicester’s biggest win however, has actually occurred twice. Two games have ended 3-0 to the Foxes,
coming in 1926 and 1962 respectively.
In the last six games between the two sides, there has been an average of 3.33 goals per game,
with 67% of the games ending with both teams scoring.
Overall, both teams scoring in this matchup adds up to 59%- well over half.
With both teams struggling to defend in recent times, and both teams looking to play fast, attacking football, the chance of that happening again this weekend is high.
Prediction:
It’s hard for me to pick a winner here. Two teams who can score goals for fun on any given day, but equally don’t seem to remember the basics of defending, something you’re taught from a very young age.
Jurgen Klopp has been pictured as a frustrated figure on the touchline in recent times, and is ‘sick of conceding goals’. Leicester have a chance to pick up only their second win in six, but will need to be wary of Liverpool’s obvious attacking threat.
Leicester need to get back on track after only drawing away at Huddersfield in their last Premier League fixture. Wins need to start happening for Craig Shakespeare, because as with anything in football nowadays, owners are happy to hire and fire in short spaces of time to try and upturn fortunes- look at Crystal Palace and Frank De Boer!
As with any prediction I do, I’ll always be slightly biased, but that’s natural. I feel as if Leicester can get something, especially at home, and Liverpool tend to leak goals. Vardy to score in front of a packed King Power Stadium.