Manchester United vs Leicester City and Pick to Win
Date:Sunday, February 5, 2017
Where: King Power Stadium – Leicester, UK
by Keith, Professional Soccer/Football Handicapper, Predictem
Match Odds: Leicester City 47/10, Manchester United 8/11, Draw 3/1
Moneyline: Leicester City +470, Manchester United -135, Draw +300,
Over/Under Best Market: OVER 2.5 EVENS (+100)
This week the English Premier League will feature a rematch of Englands coveted Community Shield. Manchester United has been playing great soccer there is no question about that. This is a team that is determined to win the FA Cup yet again and they are on the war path looking to get back in to European Champions League play in 2017 as Zatlan Ibrahimovic has complemented Wayne Rooney well on the attack. Rooney has surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton as the all-time leading scorer in English history. Additionally, Manchester United have finally started to gel under Jose Mourinho as skipper. With all of these considerations made, Manchester United appears to be more and more like the Manchester United of old that many teams feared and audiences revered.
Across from Manchester United, the defending English Premier League Champions, Leicester City. This campaign has been far more contrasting for the Foxes, as they do not appear to be anything like the club that helped many win big money as a pre-season 5000/1 bet at the beginning of the 2015/16 campaign. Nevertheless, the Foxes still have Vardy and Mahrez in their rolls to lead the same attack that led them to glory in the 2015/16 effort. Many analysts and pundits believe the Leicester City was a one-time deal, a once in a lifetime event that will make the title reign short for Leicester. Sadly for the Foxes, that analysis has come to fruition.
Leicester City has nevertheless emerged in Champions League play and one again through a series of uncanny performances reinforces the narrative that this team is capable of reaching high when no one is expecting anything of them. However, there was once a team where Leicester was feared at home. Now, we can get them at nearly 5 to 1. This is extraordinary value as we have an opportunity to take back Leicester at an enhanced price.
As we have championed previously, taking back juice on favorites over a long term is proven to be a losing venture. When you factor in that this is a situation with a road dog laying juice to a team with a home pitch advantage, the play is that much more risky no matter how good United has been playing. Manchester United certainly has an excellent chance of winning this contest outright that remains irrefutable. However, United has more or less relinquished the fact that they are going to win the English Premier League being more committed to succeeding in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europa League. Very simply in this situation, the price dictates the play here and this contest is in the King Power Stadium where Leicester City reigned supreme last season. Given Man Us success against this club at Wembley Stadium in August, many have written off Leicester which is very dangerous considering this is a team that should never been taken lightly when they are off the radar. Lets not forget, the Foxes stunned Manchester City 4-2 in Leicester earlier this season when everyone expected City to roll through.
The contest will likely be a brawl. Expect the offense to be at a premium in this affair. When you have players like Vardy, Rooney and Mahrez circling the pitch, there will likely be many scoring opportunities for both sides and in both scenarios both teams will take advantage. Expect Leicester City and Manchester United to take many shots on net in this fixture. With this being said, it is not hard for three balls to find the back of the net even if both outfits have traditionally excellent goalkeeping on both ends of the pitch. This contest has all the makings of a trap game for United, takers beware.
Leicester City Recent Form
D Derby County 1-1
L Southampton 0-3
L – Chelsea 0-3
W Everton 2-1
D Middlesborough 0-0
Manchester United Recent Form
W Wigan Athletic 4-0
L Hull City 1-2
D Stoke City 1-1
D Liverpool 1-1
W Hull City 2-0
Keith’s Prediction for the Game: Leicester City 47/10 (+470) and OVER 2.5 (+100)