Part of what made Leicester City's season so spectacular in 2015-16 was its ability to somehow, against all odds, get positive results against the biggest clubs in the English Premier League. This year though, it's back to the norm for the Foxes, as they're hanging just above the relegation zone, and even at home, they feel like they really don't have much of a shot of any success against a team like Manchester City.
This English Premier League duel will go down Saturday, December 10, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. ET at King Power Stadium. The match will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Leicester City +375
Manchester City -135
Draw +290
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
The fact of the matter is that the odds aren't changing all that much from last year's Leicester City team, particularly the one that was playing in December before we knew the magical run would last all the way into May. The Foxes were always dogs in those games until the very end, and they're big dogs here as well at +375 on the moneyline at home. Manchester City is set at -130, and that means that about 60 percent of the time, the oddsmakers think the visitors are taking all three points from this match.
The total of 2.5 and -135 vig on the over is fairly standard for the EPL at this point.
Key Injuries
Daniel Drinkwater is in the midst of a three-game suspension for Leicester City, but aside from that, the team doesn't have too much to worry about on the injury front. Kasper Schmeichel is still out with a hand injury he picked up in the beginning of November, and this has been a big woe for sure. Ron-Robert Zieler has given up 13 goals on 27 shots on target since he had to take over in net for the injured Schmeichel.
Suspensions are definitely a big issue here for Manchester City after the debacle at the end of the Chelsea match last week when red cards were handed out en masse. Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho both lost their cool and were sent off, and they were suspended for four matches and three matches respectively. This comes at a time when Nicolas Otamendi is also suspended after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, and Vincent Kompany is still a few weeks away from returning from his most recent knee injury. At least the news is good on Raheem Sterling, who is back in training after missing the Chelsea match with a knee problem.
Recent Form
The Foxes were clocked 5-0 at FC Porto on Wednesday, but we aren't all that concerned about that result since the match didn't mean anything in their Champions League quest and meant everything to the Portuguese side. What is more concerning is the fact that the team has just one point in its last four EPL matches and hasn't won since October 22. It's not like these matches have been against the big boys either. The Foxes were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland, drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough, beaten 2-1 by Watford and 2-1 by West Brom.
Manchester City has conceded at least one goal in seven straight matches across all competitions, and that's a growing concern without Kompany in the fold. The Citizens drew 1-1 in their UCL group stage finale against Celtic, but the bigger concern was a comprehensive 3-1 loss at home against Chelsea.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
It's hard to look at this shell of a Manchester City team right now and think that it can go on the road in the Premier League and win a match. The Citizens are without three of their absolute studs, and all the money in the world isn't hiding that fact.
But this Leicester team is a mess. Last year was magical for sure, but that magic has run out, and we wouldn't be surprised if the Foxes are sent down in a few months. Can they eke a point out of this one in a moment of brilliance by Jamie Vardy? Sure they can. But can they expect anything more out of that? We don't see it.
English Premier League Odds: Leicester City 1, Manchester City 1
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