Leicester City vs. Sheffield United Prediction, 7/16/20

Battling for a place in the top-four, 4th-placed Leicester City will try to earn all three points while hosting 7th-placed Sheffield United, who have European soccer also in their sights. Kick-off - at 13:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 16.

Leicester Get Thrashed By Cherries

The chances of finishing in the top-four of the Premier League this season got dented for Leicester City, who dropped points in their second consecutive game (D1 L1) after being beaten with a count of 4-1 by bottom-three residents Bournemouth away at Vitality Stadium on Sunday. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the first half before the hosts overturned the game during a two-minute stretch in the following frame, banking two goals and seeing Foxes’ defender Caglar Soyuncu sent off for violent conduct. Two more snipes, including an own-goal by Jonny Evans, followed, as Leicester now find themselves 4th in the league (W17 D8 L10), level on points with 5th-placed Manchester United, but with a better goal differential.

English striker Vardy leads his team and the race for the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 markers this season. Dane Kasper Schmeichel, meanwhile, sits 9th in the EPL’s goalkeeper chart with 93 saves. He has recorded 12 clean sheets in 35 outings this year and gives up a goal every 88 minutes on average. Leicester have scored the 3rd highest quantity of goals during the current campaign (65) while taking the 5th highest number of shots per game (13.9). The team is 4th in ball possession (55.0%) and 6th in passing accuracy (82.7%).

Sheffield United Win Second In Row

The unbeaten run of Sheffield United stretched out to four games (W3 D1) after the team recorded its second consecutive victory following a 3-0 beat-down of Chelsea at Bramall Lane on Saturday. The Blades gave up 76% of ball possession and were outshot 15-9, but expertly capitalized on the defensive mistakes of the Blues, netting twice in the first half, adding their third with 13 minutes remaining. David McGoldrick (2 goals) and Oli McBurnie both scored for the hosts, who have won four straight domestic fixtures in the league for the first time since March 1991. The team is 7th in the league (W14 D12 L9), one point below the top-six.

Forwards Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie top the Blades’ scoring table with six league strikes each. Goalie Dean Henderson, meanwhile, sits 10th in the Premier League with 90 saves. He has picked up 13 clean sheets in 33 appearances during the ongoing campaign and allows a goal every 110 minutes of play. Sheffield United have netted the 13th highest amount of goals this season (38) while taking the absolute lowest amount of shots per game (9.5). The team is 17th in both ball possession (44.5%) and passing accuracy (74.4%).

Prediction

Sheffield United have dropped their last three decisions in all competitions against Leicester City, including this season’s reverse fixture in August (2-1 in Yorkshire), but stand a great chance of extending their current unbeaten run to five Premier League games. The Foxes sit 4th in the standings but are on level points with 5th-placed Manchester United, who will pay them a visit in the very last match of the season. In other words - Leicester can’t really afford to drop points here. Having said that, the team has been regressing lately, with just two victories in its past 11 EPL fixtures (W2 D5 L4) showing a great deal of inconsistency. The Blades, on the other hand, have lost just two of their previous 11 league matchups (W6 D3 L2) and have registered just four EPL road defeats this season (W4 D9 L4).

Best bet:

Sheffield United Double Chance (Win or Draw) (-155)

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