One of the most attractive and anticipated English Premier League games this weekend goes Saturday, September 10th as Liverpool hosts reigning champions Leicester City at the first ever game at the newly-renovated Anfield Stadium. Liverpool played the first three games of the new campaign on the road and went 1-1-1 in those contests. They also played a fourth away match as they downed Burton Albion 5-0 in the English League Cup.
Liverpool vs Leicester City – 5dimes Soccer Betting Line:
- 5dimes currently lists Liverpool as the favorite to win the game at -151 with Leicester +460 and a draw at +319
Liverpool vs Leicester City – Head to Head:
These two teams met twice in Premier League last season with Liverpool winning 1-0 at home and Leicester taking the return match 2-0. The clubs have met 104 times in the past with Liverpool winning 43 losing 37 and drawing the other 24. Leicester has won just two of the last nine encounters with a pair of draws and five defeats. However, Liverpool has won just six of the past 17 meetings.
Liverpool – A Closer Look:
Reds enter the weekend in 11th place in the 20-team league with four points from a win, draw and loss. They drew 1-1 in London with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane two weeks ago. James Milner put the Liverpool in front with a 43rd minute penalty kick, but Danny Rose leveled the score in the 72nd minute. They opened the season with an impressive 4-3 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates in London, but then dropped a 2-0 decision at newly-promoted Burnley despite having over 80 per cent of ball possession. Since their last game manager Jurgen Klopp has sent Italian striker Mario Balotelli to Nice of the French Ligue 1 on a free transfer. Also, defender Andre Wisdom was sent to Red Bull Salzburg of Austria on loan and Lazar Markovic has joined Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on loan.
Liverpool finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season with 60 points from 16 victories, 12 draws and 10 defeats with 63 goals scored and 50 allowed. Klopp has initiated wholesale changes in the squad during the offseason and there’s a lot of pressure on him to get results after the changes. On the injury front, goalkeeper Loris Karius is out until October while midfielder Sheyi Ojo should return in September. Midfielder Lucas Leiva could be back this weekend while defender Joe Gomez and midfielder Emre Can are out indefinitely. Defender Mamadou Sakho is expected back in September.
Leicester City – A Closer Look:
Last year’s champions Leicester City also have a record of one win, a draw and a loss for four points and enter the weekend in ninth position. Their last outing two weeks ago resulted in a 2-1 home triumph over Swansea City. Jamie Vardy scored in the 32nd minute for the champions while Wes Morgan made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. Leroy Fer got one back for Swansea with 10 minutes to go. Manager Claudio Ranieri has made a couple of player moves since then by acquiring Algerian striker Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon.
Leicester City was beaten 2-1 by newly-promoted Hull City in Hull in their opening match then played to a 0-0 home draw with last season’s runners-up Arsenal in week two. Leicester shocked the soccer world by winning the Premier League last season after being listed as 5000/1 long shots before the campaign kicked off. They accumulated 81 points on 23 victories, 12 draws and just three defeats with 68 goals for and 36 against. Leicester appears to have a full, healthy squad heading into this game as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Nampalys Mendy are expected to return to the lineup.
Liverpool vs Leicester – Takeaway:
Liverpool will likely have the edge here since it’s an historic evening at Anfield.
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by Ian S. Palmer