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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Leicester and Tottenham are the Jekyll and Hyde of the Premier League.
There are times when you think both could genuinely land blows in the title race, and then you see them struggle to break down a defensive unit that shipped five the week before.
It’s tough guessing how these teams in these respective situations will manage secondary European competitions because of this, but the two things that work in our benefit are the fact that Mourinho lives and breathes silverware, and Leicester winning the Europa League is a big deal for them.
In that regard, who are they to turn down midweek games in… *checks notes* Luhansk and Linz? Goodness.
Either way, the standard of the opposition might not help us land a big-priced double, but one thing it absolutely does is ensure that we can predict the outcome based primarily on the fact that, even if the second-string units aren’t firing at full pelt in these games, they should still be good enough.
If we were to base these games purely on how big a win would be for either, then Spurs are in much bigger need of a victory than Leicester City, but the issue lies with their current form that Brendan Rodgers can’t allow seep into the short-to-medium term.
A statement is required, and the first opportunity to provide one is here. No, it’s not a crucial three points to grasp, nor would it prove definitive unless Braga dropped points to AEK, but Leicester’s shaky form at the back means they’re going to have to overcome that by taking even more risks.
It’s funny – most teams try and get a clean sheet to reset themselves, but Leicester are the exact opposite because Rodgers knows both his strength as a coach and the strength of his playing staff lies firmly in the final third.
So they may well ship, but they’ll turn up the heat on a hapless outfit as a backlash to that defeat to Fulham.
I know that 0-0 draw against Chelsea was far from a classic. In fact, if it were wiped from our memories entirely, I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.
But it’s really not a bad result whatsoever, and Jose Mourinho knows that clean sheets becoming commonplace are a better indication of your consistency than if you’re beating teams 2-1 every week.
Spurs have the players at the top end of the pitch to score goals regardless of the situation and ironing out defensive issues was job #1 for the Portuguese boss.
They’ll go to Linz needing a result, and given this is the first Spurs squad to have actual depth, you’d be foolish to back against them landing all three points here and taking control of the group.
Football tips: Double delight for Leicester and Spurs in this 11/2 Europa League punt
The Premier League high-fliers are both in early action on Thursday.
By Andrew Cunneen / Football Tips / 2 years ago
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Leicester and Tottenham are the Jekyll and Hyde of the Premier League.
There are times when you think both could genuinely land blows in the title race, and then you see them struggle to break down a defensive unit that shipped five the week before.
Football tips: Shots all round for Everton in Lunchtime trip to Burnley
It’s tough guessing how these teams in these respective situations will manage secondary European competitions because of this, but the two things that work in our benefit are the fact that Mourinho lives and breathes silverware, and Leicester winning the Europa League is a big deal for them.
In that regard, who are they to turn down midweek games in… *checks notes* Luhansk and Linz? Goodness.
Either way, the standard of the opposition might not help us land a big-priced double, but one thing it absolutely does is ensure that we can predict the outcome based primarily on the fact that, even if the second-string units aren’t firing at full pelt in these games, they should still be good enough.
Every cloud, isn’t it?
5.55pm: Zorya v Leicester – Leicester to Win and Both Teams to Score
If we were to base these games purely on how big a win would be for either, then Spurs are in much bigger need of a victory than Leicester City, but the issue lies with their current form that Brendan Rodgers can’t allow seep into the short-to-medium term.
A statement is required, and the first opportunity to provide one is here. No, it’s not a crucial three points to grasp, nor would it prove definitive unless Braga dropped points to AEK, but Leicester’s shaky form at the back means they’re going to have to overcome that by taking even more risks.
It’s funny – most teams try and get a clean sheet to reset themselves, but Leicester are the exact opposite because Rodgers knows both his strength as a coach and the strength of his playing staff lies firmly in the final third.
So they may well ship, but they’ll turn up the heat on a hapless outfit as a backlash to that defeat to Fulham.
READ MORE:
5.55pm: LASK Linz v Tottenham – Tottenham to Win
I know that 0-0 draw against Chelsea was far from a classic. In fact, if it were wiped from our memories entirely, I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.
But it’s really not a bad result whatsoever, and Jose Mourinho knows that clean sheets becoming commonplace are a better indication of your consistency than if you’re beating teams 2-1 every week.
Spurs have the players at the top end of the pitch to score goals regardless of the situation and ironing out defensive issues was job #1 for the Portuguese boss.
They’ll go to Linz needing a result, and given this is the first Spurs squad to have actual depth, you’d be foolish to back against them landing all three points here and taking control of the group.
Early kick-off Europa League double
5.55pm: Zorya v Leicester – Leicester to Win and Both Teams to Score
5.55pm: LASK Linz v Tottenham – Tottenham to Win
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
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