Leicester City vs. Everton and Pick to Win
Date: Sunday, May 8th
Where: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, United Kingdom
by Keith, Professional Soccer/Football Handicapper, Predictem
Match Odds: Leicester City 21/20, Everton 58/19, Draw 14/5
Moneyline:Leicester City +105, Everton +305, Draw +180
Over/Under: OFF
The drama and wait is finally over for the Leicester Foxes, they can rest their heads and call themselves 2015-16 English Premier League Champions. The run orchestrated by the Foxes was historic and nothing short of a dynamic feat that will live in English and World football folklore for eons to come. With the English Premier League wrapped up, the Foxes can coast their next two games, one of which will be played in the Midlands in the King Power Stadium against visiting Everton.
Everton enters on a high note, they were winless since March 12th when the Toffees defeated the much maligned Chelsea, 2-0. Previous to this, Evertons last win on March 1st was earned against the since relegated bottom-feeder Aston Villa 3-1. The Toffees have been bullied and picked on by the teams residing near the top of the table, thus the victory over Bournemouth will not raise any eyebrows or foster any unwarranted attention.
Traditionally, Everton has been personified as a middling club that hangs around the top-eight of the Premier League table. We have seen the Toffees enter Europa qualification and even Champions League contention in years past. The Toffees however could never truly get over the hump of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal, but they have been typified as a club that preys on many of the other constituents residing within the Premiership. However, the Toffees have been a horse of a different color in the previous two campaigns. At times Everton was fighting to stay out of the relegation zone but they were never formidable enough to push to the next tier. With the likes of Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku at their disposal, there are many questions as to how Everton has been such a consistent underachiever. Nevertheless, the Dogs of War gave Leicester City a fight in their last meeting at Goodison Park, where the Foxes escaped 3-2 on December 19, 2015.
As mentioned previously, Leicester knows how to shut the door on opponents defensively. This was once again indicated in the Foxes performance against Manchester United who has since been on a recent upswing in scoring. The Foxes were able to deliver an impressive defensive effort away from home at Old Trafford and this further illustrated why Leicester deserved to win the title. Everton has had a far different campaign, their goal differential sits at 6. Leicester stands at an extraordinary 30. The difference of course fostered in Leicester surrendering 15 less goals than Everton over the span of the season.
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With much of the public leaning on Leicester, the now sitting English Premier League Champions, this is the perfect time to sell stock in the Foxes. The conditions are ideal for Leicester to have a let down, they have clinched the title and will likely be distracted by the revelry, celebrations and excitement of a home crowd. As we have mentioned previously, the Foxes have achieved a feat that is astronomical, equivalent to a mid-major American College Football team winning the National Championship. The English Premier League title often stays within three cities in England: London, Liverpool or Manchester and with the Midland city of Leicester now placing itself on the World Map, it is fascinating to see how the Foxes approach this fixture given for the first time they have nothing left to seal or earn.
Everton on the contrary is trying to sew up this campaign to the best of their ability. The Toffees have an opportunity to secure nine more points before calling the campaign quits. While these points will gain the Toffees nothing or losing these points will cause no adverse effects, the Toffees are bound to play for pride down the backstretch and gather as many points as possible. It would unfathomable for the Toffees to get a win in the King Power Stadium, but a draw is certainly conceivable and the least regarded possibility in the three options afforded to backers.
Leicester City Recent Form
D Manchester United 1-1
W Newcastle United 1-0
W Crystal Palace 1-0
W Southampton 1-0
W Sunderland 2-0
Everton Recent Form
W Bournemouth 2-1
L Manchester United 1-2
L Liverpool 0-4
D Southampton 1-1
D Crystal Palace 0-0
Keith’s Prediction for the Game: Draw +180