Premier League: Can the Inconsistent Foxes Raise Their Game Again?

Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City

If this Premier League clash ends goalless, I’ll eat my hat!

For here are two attacking-minded sides who have not only produced some of the Premier League 2019 highlights between them but also produced 21 goals in their last four top-flight clashes.

Form-wise, Leicester were unfortunate not to claim a point against Manchester United last weekend and after taking a fine point at Anfield a few days earlier.

They may have lost the preceding three games, including an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at Newport, but they seem to find their mojo when they are up against the heavyweights: they have taken seven points from three matches against the top two and Chelsea this term.

Meanwhile, injury-hit Spurs have bounced back from exiting both domestic cup competitions in the span of four days with successive home victories over Watford and Newcastle.

Although unlikely, they even got an outside chance of winning the title.

Talking Points

While Harry Kane and Dele Alli are both back in training, this game is too early for both. Meanwhile, Eric Dier is out with a virus and Ben Davies is missing due to a groin injury.

In Son Heung-Min, however, the home side has a player who is in fine form and has sparked their last two victories after returning from South Korean duty at the Asian Cup.

He has scored nine goals in his last 10 league and cup appearances for Spurs and has scored three and set up two in his last two Premier League starts against Leicester.

He also had a hand in 14 goals in his last 11 starts in the Premier League, scoring 10 and assisting four.

In Kane’s understudy, Fernando Llorente, Spurs also have a frontman who has been involved in seven goals in his past eight appearances in all competitions (five goals, two assists).

Leicester, meanwhile, could give a debut to new loan signing Youri Tielemans. They have a dangerous frontman of their own who enjoys playing against the big boys – Vardy has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven league appearances against Tottenham with four goals and three assists.

Daniel Amartey and Marc Albrighton are both injured for a side whose back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Man City in December preceded a home loss to strugglers Cardiff City, suggesting the Foxes are better suited for bigger games.

How underrated manager Claude Puel would love to end that inconsistency.

History

In this fixture last season, on the final day of the campaign, the sides produced a thriller which resulted in Spurs sealing third spot in the table.

That spectacle and a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium in December, in which Heung-Min and Alli were on target, maintained Spurs’ recent good record against the Foxes – they have only been defeated once in their past six meetings.

Despite the inconsistencies in form, Jamie Vardy remains Leicester’s attacker scoring 7 Premier League goals this season — Jamie Vardy shoots the ball during their match against Manchester United

That one loss came last season when Leicester triumphed 2-1 with Vardy and the now-departed Riyad Mahrez finding the net.

Indeed, since returning to the Premier League in 2014, Leicester have conceded 22 goals against Tottenham Hotspur – more than against any other team.

Yet Leicester have what Spurs crave – a Premier League title – and a pivotal moment in that unforgettable campaign came in a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane in January 2016.

Spurs finished second that season, and some of their fans have had a dislike for Leicester ever since they were pipped to the post and missed out on what they know was a glorious opportunity.

It will come as no surprise to SBOBET fans that the mighty Spurs have won 55 of their meetings with Leicester, enjoying 35 triumphs and 21 draws.

The sides have met 25 times in the Premier League, each winning 10 games.

Betting Tip

	Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City	Draw 1×2 @3.60
	February 10, 21:30 (GMT+8)

Leicester City have lost all three of their games against Spurs at Wembley. As well as last season, they were the defeated side in 1961 FA Cup Final and the 1999 League Cup Final.

With Premier League 2019 betting odds, Spurs naturally start as favourites and are priced 1X2 @ 1.70 with Leicester @ 4.90.

Asian Handicap betting follows a similar path with Leicester + 0.50 @ 2.29 and Spurs an attractive -1.00 @ 2.23.

For more goals galore, over 3.00 goals offers odds of @ 2.38 and total goal 4-6 @ 3.40.

The Double Chance of Leicester or Draw @ 2.07 has a certain appeal, while a repeat of the North Londoner’s 2-0 success in December with the correct score is available @ 8.00.

Given it has now been 29 league games since Spurs last played out a draw – only Portsmouth, between March 1928 and February 1929 (38 games) have gone on a longer run – my prediction may surprise you.

Despite not picking up many points of late, Leicester are playing well and Spurs may also have one eye on their home Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund three days later.