TOTTENHAM host Leicester on Sunday afternoon. Jack Wright (@JackWright_BSB ) is on-hand to preview the match-up.
Tottenham vs Leicester | Sunday 20th December 2020, 14:15 | Sky Sports
A late Roberto Firmino winning header on Wednesday – much to Tim Sherwood’s surprise – not only defeated Spurs but wrestled top spot in the Premier League off them. And after Liverpool’s incredible 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace on Saturday, Jose Mourinho sends his side in to battle here six points adrift of the defending champions.
After having their three-game winning streak abruptly ended by a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Everton in midweek, the fourth at the King Power this campaign, the Foxes will look to bounce back here and continue a run which has seen them defeat West Brom, Manchester City, Arsenal, Leeds and Sheffield United in their six away league games so far this season.
Brendan Rodgers will have to turn around a poor trend of recent results in away games against their hosts having lost the last three – with a 3-0 loss on their first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season with 5-4 and 3-1 defeats in the previous two seasons at Spurs’ temporary Wembley Stadium home.
One trend I am expecting to see continue is goals with six of the last seven meetings between the two sides resulting in at least three goals, the last 11 have seen an average of 3.91 goals per game with three of those producing over seven or more – a 28/1 shot with Betfair for those of a bold persuasion!
I will be playing a slightly safer option especially with three of the league's top five goal scorers on the pitch who have 30 goals between them already (Son 11, Vardy 10, Kane 9) and as both sides have fantastic respective home and away records this season – Spurs have won their last six at home in all competitions – we shouldn’t see either team settle for a draw.
Therefore, with Leicester’s away league games averaging 3.67 goals per game, Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score at odds of 11/10 via Bet365’s Bet Builder is a confident opening selection.
While Jose has been noticeably improving his side over his time in charge, he is still labelled as being a defensive manager however with the aforementioned Kane and Son firing in 20 league goals between them this season there is some scope to contest that claim.
One avenue Mourinho is sure to be looking to exploit is Leicester’s frailty in defending set pieces, with seven goals already conceded from corners, a weakness that was regularly exposed by Everton in that midweek defeat.
My eyes were drawn to that man Son Heung-Min who not only has those 11 league goals to his name he has provided four assists and having taken 33 of his sides 74 corners there is a good chance he will land the 4/1 odds for him to add another one here.
However, the SkyBet market Return the Favour has been owned by the Son and his strike partner Harry Kane this term. England’s skipper has nine league goals himself but tops the assist charts and is already in double figures, some four more than next highest, Kevin De Bruyne who has six.
Kane has incredibly assisted eight of Son’s league goals with the South Korean ‘Returning The Favour' four times – this has happened in the same game on three occasions which makes the 40/1 on offer with SkyBet in this game still far bigger than I would have expected and is a bet I am more than happy to play in a game which promises goals.
Another highly probable route to goal looks to be from the penalty spot with Leicester having received eight awards this season so far, successfully converting seven, Spurs have only had two but conceded three, although I am not going to put a bet in this market forward, I think it will be popular amongst many readers and therefore I will cover some headline stats.
Craig Pawson is the man in the middle for this one and has awarded four penalties from his eight games in charge so is certainly not shy of pointing to the spot.
The best price of 13/8 with William Hill for a penalty to be awarded is a little bit skinny for me but can certainly see the appeal for those wanting to play that market. Two penalties to be awarded is 10/1 with SkyBet and is a potential play with Pawson having done that on one occasion already this season and Leicester having received at least two in a game on three occasions themselves.
A final option and probably my favourite of all if pushed is for Vardy to score a penalty at odds of 6/1 using the Bet Builder option with BetVictor.
Best Bets
Tottenham vs Leicester – Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score (11/10 Bet365)
Tottenham vs Leicester – Harry Kane to assist Son Heung-min and Son Heung-min to assist Harry Kane (40/1 Sky Bet)
