Premier League: The Top Two At Christmas Go Head-To-Head

Leicester City vs Liverpool

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that this meeting would be a clash of the top two on Boxing Day.

However, it shows that the Foxes are punching well above their weight and that is full credit to the players and team spirit which manager Brendan Rodgers has helped develop.

Realistically, the 2019/2020 Premier League title race is over but, should Leicester City spring a surprise here and inflict a first league defeat of the season on the leaders, then perhaps it may spark a few nerves on Merseyside.

Talking Points

Liverpool are returning to domestic action as world champions and intent on producing yet more Premier League highlights.

They have a near full strength squad to choose from, although midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out after damaging ankle ligaments at the FIFA Club World Cup. Fabinho, DejanLovren and Joel Matip all remain out.

Leicester will assess winger Harvey Barnes, who suffered an ankle problem against Manchester City last weekend.

Midfielder Matty James, who has not featured for nearly a year because of an Achilles injury, is back in training but not yet available.

Premier League: Jamie Vardy currently has seven goals against Liverpool — Jame Vardy celebrates with Leicester City after scoring against Manchester City

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was quite brilliant in their 3-1 defeat to the champions and may need to be again against a side which has won 29 Premier League games in 2019. Indeed, they have only once managed more victories in a calendar year, recording 33 in 1982.

Ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand, in English top-flight history the only side to be at least 10 points clear at Christmas and not win the title were Newcastle United in 1995-96.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have won 25 of their last 26 Premier League matches (drawing the other), including 16 of 17 this season and are unbeaten in 34 league fixtures since losing to the champions at the start of the year.

Liverpool have also enjoyed Boxing Day over the past four seasons, winning all four of their matches by an aggregate score of 11-0.

Leicester though are a tough prospect on home soil and unbeaten in 11 home matches in all competitions (won eight, drawn three), since a 1-0 loss to Newcastle in April.

In Jamie Vardy they have a frontman who has scored 29 Premier League goals in 2019 – six more than his nearest rival (Sadio Mane with 23).

Vardy has scored five goals in his last three home games against Liverpool and his total of seven Premier League goals against the leaders is bettered only by Andy Cole (Newcastle and Man Utd) and Thierry Henry (Arsenal) who netted 11 and eight respectively.

Whatever happens now, Leicester fans can be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished and excited about the future.

Are they capable of disrupting the leaders though?

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History

Liverpool won this fixture last season. A 2-1 win early on in the campaign was secured by goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

However, it was the return fixture which proved so pivotal in the title race as Liverpool missed the chance to open up a seven point lead going into February which may have seen them over the line.

On that occasion Mane again opened the scoring but Harry Maguire’s equaliser secured the Foxes a deserved point at Anfield.

Overall, Leicester have actually got a good record against the Merseysiders, winning 39 times with Liverpool triumphing in 49 matches.

There have also been a further 25 draws.

Liverpool have won four and drawn one of the last five meetings.

In 2017, Leicester twice enjoyed success. They were 3-1 winners in the Premier League that year, courtesy of goals from Jamie Vardy (two) and Danny Drinkwater before sealing a 2-0 success in the League Cup six months later when Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani were the goal-getters.

Their meeting earlier this season saw Liverpool seal a last-gasp 2-1 win, courtesy of a James Milner penalty.

Betting Tip

	Leicester City vs Liverpool	1X2 Draw @ 3.45
	December 27, 04:00 (GMT+8)

Liverpool start as favourites with the SBOBET Premier League betting odds and are priced 1X2 @ 2.07 and can also be backed with Asian Handicap odds – 0.75 @ 2.36. The Foxes will attract some with 1X2 odds @ 3.35, Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.12.

Goals are something both these clubs have no problem with so over 3.00 goals @ 2.19, total goal 2-3 @ 1.99 and 4-6 @ 2.89 may catch you eye, while a repeat of last season’s fixture – correct score 1-2 – will pay out @ 7.60.