English Premier League Soccer Odds, Prediction: Leicester City vs. Manchester United
The 2019-20 English Premier League season comes to a much later than usual end Sunday thanks to the coronavirus shutdown, with every single match played at 11 a.m. ET. The most important of those is likely Leicester City hosting Manchester United. The Foxes are +201 to win on the soccer odds with the Red Devils at +116 and a draw +227.
Leicester City Odds and News
The Foxes sit fifth in the table with 62 points, one behind both Manchester United and Chelsea. The only way to guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League is with a win Sunday. The side also would get in with a draw and a Chelsea home loss to Wolves (not likely). Leicester is guaranteed a top-five EPL finish, which means a spot in the Europa League and another potential shot at Champions League qualification should it lose Sunday.
Leicester City will be well-rested, not having played since last Sunday’s 3-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur. All three Spurs goals were in the first half with two from Harry Kane in a span of three minutes. He owns Leicester with 16 goals in 10 career appearances vs. the Foxes.
On the bright side, Leicester did dominate the second half. The side was without the injured Ricardo Pereira, James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Christian Fuchs, Daniel Amartey and Marc Albrighton as well as the suspended Çağlar Söyüncü.
The Foxes’ Jamie Vardy is in good shape to win the Premier League Golden Boot as he’s first in the EPL with 23 goals, two ahead of Southampton’s Danny Ings. Vardy has never won the award and no player from Leicester City has. Vardy is +135 to be an anytime scorer Sunday, and Leicester City is +114 to score first.
Manchester United Odds and News
While Leicester City has to play for the victory, the Red Devils only need a point to earn an automatic spot in the Champions League and their first top-four EPL finish since 2018. So, expect a hugely conservative/defensive effort from the Red Devils if the match is tied in the second half simply to avoid a devastating loss.
Man U is off a very disappointing 1-1 home draw Wednesday against a West Ham side that now sits 15th in the table. In fact, if the Red Devils don’t get a top-four finish, partially blame West Ham as it was unbeaten in two season series matches. Wednesday’s point assured the Irons of avoiding relegation.
Paul Pogba made a big mistake Wednesday as he threw up his hands in the penalty area to avoid a West Ham free kick hitting him in the face. That led to a penalty shot for West Ham, which was converted in first-half stoppage time by Michail Antonio. Pogba acknowledged after he should have let the ball hit him in the “mush.”
Thankfully for the Red Devils, they were able to come away with a point when Mason Greenwood equalised in the 51st minute. It was the 18-year-old Greenwood’s 17th goal of the season overall and 10th in the Premier League. Only three players prior had reached 10 league goals prior to their 19th birthday.
The Red Devils look for the sweep of Leicester, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford back on Sept. 14, 2019. Marcus Rashford had the goal on a penalty in the eighth minute. Pogba and superstar Anthony Martial were out for Man U.
Martial is +195 to be an anytime scorer Sunday with Greenwood at +210. The Red Devils are -127 to score first.
Leicester City vs. Manchester United Score Prediction
Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2 – priced +1000 on exact score prop.