Manchester United vs. Leicester City and Pick to Win
Date: Saturday, December 23rd, 2017
Where: King Power Stadium Leicester City, United Kingdom
by Keith, Professional Soccer/Football Handicapper, Predictem
Match Odds: Manchester United 4/5, Leicester City 4/1, Draw 11/4
Moneyline: Manchester United -120, Leicester City +400, Draw +275
Over/Under: OVER 3 11/7 (+158)
There was a time not too long ago where the Leicester City Foxes did the unthinkable and won their first ever English Premier League in the most uncanny and unprecedented of fashions. Since the historic run in the 2015-16 campaign, the Foxes have certainly came back down to the Earth. However, Leicester City was on the verge of creating havoc yet again in the Champions League of 2016-17. Leicester outplayed each English outfit that had qualified and made it all the way to the quarterfinals before they were finally eliminated in a blaze of glory. Very simply, no one knew who they were and as Leicester City has proven they are not one to overlook or fail to acquaint oneself with. Now, the Foxes will be on the home pitch of the King Power Stadium to welcome a re-emerging power and traditional heavyweight of the world soccer game: Manchester United. The Red Devils from the North will travel down the M1 to do battle just before Christmas kicks off.
The Red Devils come into this affair escaping West Bromwich Albion by a score of 2-1 in The Hawthorns in their most recent Premiership fixture. There are many rumors circulating around this program regarding possible transfers. The two names on the front of the list are Antoine Griezzman from Atletico Madrid and forward Eden Hazard from Chelsea. The French striker and the Belgian winger would already add to an insane cornucopia of talent within the Manchester United ranks, including Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, and Marcus Rashford. It is without question Manager Jose Mourinho is looking to win the league at all costs and make a run in Europe. The Red Devils are proud to have won the Europa League Championship in their previous campaign.
Leicester has the potency in their attack to always be a threat. The Foxes still bode the services of the dynamic duo of forwards Jamie Vardy and Riyadh Mahrez. The two men were responsible for powering this upstart English club in to unchartered waters in the fabled title run. Furthermore, King Power Stadium is a notoriously animated environment where the Foxes are never an easy out. When you couple these narratives with the look-ahead possibility for United, this smells like a trap game.
The expectation of winning and doing so emphatically is the standard for the Red Devils and their faithful. There is no team in all of the world that has bolstered more success than Manchester United. The Red Devils are the New York Yankees of world football and with their reputation often comes lofty expectations. Despite this, the Reds are not even the best team in Manchester at the moment. Their cross-city rivals Manchester City sit 11 points clear of them after an epic Derby win, two weeks ago. With the EPL seemingly out of reach, motivation has to come under consideration with the star-power on this football team. The same cannot be said for Leicester who hover in the middle of the table with 26 points. Once again, the Foxes are an everything-to-gain and nothing to lose kind of team. This makes them especially dangerous.
While it is easy to take Manchester United at a reduced juice price, we are going to bold here and call for a Christmas Miracle or upset in this case. The Foxes will enter this contest off-the-radar and just where they like to be before making a statement. Manchester United will likely be looking forward to the Christmas festivities and looking to get the game over with. The combination of these two ingredients makes Leicester an extremely quality play here at the price offered. Given the penchant both teams have for offense, the OVER 3 also bodes equity at a delectable offering as well.
Manchester United Recent Form
W West Bromwich Albion 2-1
W Bournemouth 1-0
L Manchester City 1-2
W CSKA Moscow 2-1
W Arsenal 3-1
Leicester City Recent Form
D Manchester City 1-1
L Crystal Palace 0-3
W Southampton 4-1
W Newcastle United 3-2
W Burnley 1-0
Keith’s Prediction for the Game: LEICESTER CITY 4/1 (+400) and OVER 3 11/7 (+158)
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