Saturday 24th Feb 2018
Leicester City v Stoke City 12:30
The Premier League action returns this weekend and we get going on Saturday lunchtime with two cities clashing as Leicester entertain Stoke.
Leicester sit 8th in the table before this game and with a lot of clubs below them are in no danger of being relegated. They do have a chance of making the Europa League qualification though so still have plenty to play for. In contrast, Stoke, who head into week 28 in 19th place with just 25 points, are in a desperate relegation battle so every point for them at this stage is vital.
The good news for them though is that things very tight at the bottom of the table – so a win for Stoke would see them rise up to 15th.
How are the bookmakers pricing this one up?
With home advantage and the much-better league position it’s no shock to see Leicester odds-on at 1.72 in the match betting, with the draw 3.50 and Stoke 5.00.
Stoke have only won 6 points away in the league all season and have the worst record of all the 20 top-flight sides away from home this season.
In contrast, Leicester have won 21 of their 35 points in front of their home fans and after winning this repeat fixture 2-0 last season then the percentage call here is to back the Foxes.
If we also add in that Leicester haven’t lost in their last 5 vs Stoke and that the Potters have failed to score in their last two away games at Leicester, then this gives further confidence backers of the home side.
Stoke also head into this game having not won in their last 8 league games and have lost 69% of their away league games this campaign.
If you are backing Leicester though, a small word of caution – well actually a big word! A massive 5 of the last 9 league head-to-heads between these sides have finished in DRAWS.
They drew 2-2 at the Britannia earlier this season, while that same score line has been very common with 3 of the last 5 head-to-heads ending with both teams having netted two goals each. You can back 2-2 again in this game at 17.00 and with 60% return on this score in recent games then having a small interest in this result looks worth getting involved with.
Stoke’s Shaqiri, with 6 league goals, scored when these sides met earlier in the season and is their current top league scorer, while Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, with 13 goals in the league, is of course also going to be popular in the scoring markets.
Other options that are worth noting are that despite the popular 2-2 score line, we’ve actually seen both teams NOT score in the last three head-to-heads – this can be backed at 1.95.
However, with 4 of the last 5 meetings seeing OVER 2.5 GOALS this is certainly another decent option at 1.90. 9 of Leicester’s last 12 league games have also seen 3+ goals so will be sticking with this option here.
Best Bets: Over 2.5 Goals @1.90, 2-2 Correct Score @17.00
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Saturday 24th Feb 2018
Leicester City v Stoke City 12:30
- Already played this season, Stoke 2-2 Leicester
- Last season’s repeat fixture ended, Leicester 2-0 Stoke
- Leicester are unbeaten in their last 5 vs Stoke
- 3 of the last 5 head-to-heads have ended 2-2
- 4 of the last 5 head-to-heads went OVER 2.5 GOALS
- Both teams DIDN’T score in the last 3 repeat fixtures
- Stoke have NOT scored in their last 2 away games at Leicester
- 5 DRAWS in the last 9 league head-to-heads
- Jamie Vardy is Leicester’s top league scorer this season (13)
- Shaqiri is Stoke’s top league scorer this season (6)