After their impressive road win, Leicester return to King Power Stadium, where they will take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday (3pm). The visitors will also be buoyed by a huge win last time out, but can they follow up? Or will it be another case of one step forward, two steps back? The hosts go in search of a third straight win in all competitions.
This LCFC vs THFC preview intends to unpick this Premier League contest before deciding on our betting tips.
After they stuttered offensively somewhat in the FA Cup, scoring just once against lower-level opposition, the Foxes improved offensively last weekend, scoring no less four goals as they emerged victorious at Villa Park. Sure, they conceded twice, but the way in which they went about their attacking business will surely have pleased Brendan Rodgers. Forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who found the net and provided two assists, was particularly impressive.
Saturday’s hosts have now gone three games without tasting defeat, picking up a point against high-flyers Brighton when they last played in front of a home crowd. That said, their overall home form has not been great, so much so that they are looking for a first home victory in five Premier League games here.
Leaky Leicester
In their last two fixtures, Brendan Rodger’s men have shown their attacking quality. They notched twice against Brighton, which is not overly easy to do, while they were rampant last weekend. Not only did Kelechi Iheanacho really come into his own after struggling for starts this term, but new signing Mateus Tete looked a real handful. The Brazilian scored on his debut and looks sure to bolster the Foxes already capable front-line.
Unfortunately, at the other end, things are not looking so sweet. Saturday’s hosts have now gone six Premier League games on the spin without keeping a clean sheet. More alarming is the fact that they have conceded two or more goals in five of those six. During that spell, they have surrendered an average of 1.93 expected goals, so it’s not as if they’ve been shipping goals unluckily.
Even at home, they have struggled to keep teams at bay of late, conceding in each of their last four home fixtures, relinquishing a total of seven goals during that time.
Picking up points on the road
It has not been a great season for Spurs, who have been up and down, much like in other campaigns, but they have certainly picked up points on the road, that cannot be denied. In fact, as things stand, only the current Premier League leaders have accumulated more away points than Antonio Conte’s men, whose only loss in their last five road EPL games came at the Etihad.
Defensively, they have not been too sharp, keeping a clean sheet in only four out of 11 away games, giving up two or more goals in six of the other seven. However, at the other end, they have looked more than useful, scoring 19 in 11. Only three Premier League teams have scored more away goals than Spurs, who have now netted at least twice in four of their last five road games in the league.
Tottenham on top
In recent times, it is Tottenham Hotspur who have dominated this fixture. The visitors have won each of their last four fixtures against the Foxes, two of which have taken place at this venue. When they last visited King Power Stadium, they came out on top in dramatic style, scoring twice in added time to win by three goals to two. When the teams met earlier this season, Spurs shifted through the gears in fine style, scoring six goals.
Goals tend to be scored when these two get down to business, that’s for sure. Each of the last four renewals of this fixture have contained no less than four goals. Both teams have scored in each of those four, scoring at least twice each in three of those four. Moreover, only one of the last eight meetings between this pair have contained less than three goals.
Go with goals in the betting
Goals are hard to get away from here, so much so that ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’ makes plenty of appeal in the early betting with the chief UK online sports betting operators.
Leicester really hit their stride offensively last weekend, and with Kelechi Iheanacho firing, James Maddison fit again, and new signing Mateus Tete looking a threat, they have it within them to hurt a Spurs back-line that has struggled to keep teams out this term. At the same time, though, the Foxes looked very open at Villa Park. They conceded twice and could easily have conceded more, as was the case against Brighton before that.
The hosts have now conceded two or more in their last six, as mentioned in this LCFC vs THFC preview above. That doesn’t bode well ahead of a game against the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski, all of whom should be fired up after a hugely positive display against Manchester City.
What’s more, the visitors can barely keep themselves away from high-scoring games away from the comforts of home, with three or more goals being scored in four of their last five travelling fixtures in the Premier League. In Tottenham’s away games this term, there has been an average of 3.18 goals scored.
It is also worth noting that since 2017, these two have met six times at King Power Stadium. Both teams have scored in five of those six, while at least three goals have been scored in five of those six too.
So, little surprise, we are going to for a recommended betting tip that relies on goals being scored in this EPL game on Saturday:
- Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score @ 21/20 with Bet365.
Bradley Gibbs is an experienced football writer. He is an expert analyst on Premier League, and all global football leagues & tournaments, for Just Bookies. Bradley has been published by many respected outlets, including USA Betting and the Racing & Football Outlook. He has also written betting strategy guides.