Leicester City v Liverpool Preview, Odds, Predictions (May 15)
Initial Thoughts
As Liverpool push for the final Champions League place, Leicester City fight to maintain Premier League status. The Reds are seeking a 7th straight win in the league, but the form book suggests this could be a tricky encounter for a Liverpool side that’s struggled for consistency this season.
The Narrative
After that record-breaking 7-0 win over Manchester United in early March, Liverpool rose to a season-high 5th place and looked on course to salvage at least a European place from a truly dreadful 2022/23 campaign.
But Red’s fans were in for another rollercoaster ride as Klopp’s side lost to bottom club Bournemouth (a team they’d beat 9-0 last time around) and then dropped points against Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Since then Liverpool appear to have turned it round again, with an impressive run of six straight wins on the bounce.
The first four of those were high scoring affairs, with Klopp’s side racking up a combined 15 goals in wins against Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Tottenham.
But the last two have been much tighter, with the Reds going up early against Fulham and Brentford and then holding on to secure narrow 1-0 victories.
With a game in hand on all four teams around them, a win for Leicester would see them climb out of the drop zone into 17th place.
Prior to last week’s loss to Fulham, the Foxes had put together a three match unbeaten run in the league, but they now face the mother of all run-ins in their quest to secure top flight football next season.
If Dean Smith’s side are going to turn their season around, now is the time to do it. Results on the weekend have thrown the Foxes a lifeline. The question is: will they take the opportunity that’s been handed to them and raise their game against Liverpool tonight?
Nuts and Bolts
Klopp’s side are unbeaten in their last six away fixtures but the devil could be in the details here. Because on all three occasions this season that Liverpool racked up back-to-back wins at home they’ve dropped points in the following match on the road.
In August a 9-0 win against the Cherries and 2-1 win against the Magpies was followed up with a 0-0 draw away to Everton in the Merseyside derby.
In October, consecutive 1-0 wins against Man City and West Ham at Anfield were followed up by defeat to the same scoreline away to Nottingham Forest.
And in March a 2-0 win against Wolves and 7-0 win against Man United, were followed by another 1-0 loss away to Bournemouth.
All this points to a mental fragility that’s plagued the Reds all season, so could that come into play against a Foxes side that are desperate to avoid the drop?
Homestand Picks
All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets
Leceister won 1-0 at the King Power stadium last season, and two own goals from Wout Faes handed the Reds a 2-1 win at Anfield when these sides last met back in December. They’re unbeaten at home since Dean Smith took over, and Liverpool’s pattern is to struggle on the road after successive wins at home.
Over 10.5 total shots on target (+120)
Liverpool and Leicester racked up five or more shots on target in their last Premier League games, and with this fixture a must-win matchup for both sides expect an end-to-end game tonight.
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