Liverpool vs. Leicester City – EPL, November 22, 2020

First takes on third on Sunday as Leicester looks to extend its lead at the top of the table by beating Liverpool at Anfield.

Both sides have started well but have experienced some surprising results too, so this game should be a good test of which of the two looks more like a title winner this season.

It is not very often that a bookmaker prices Liverpool at anything but odds on to win at home. So this offering of evens from BetOnline does seem very attractive.

Leicester is playing well – and is currently top of the league – so the odds for a draw could be worthwhile too. But it may be difficult to look anywhere else than the home win bet at this price.

Both sides go into this game on Sunday with extensive injury lists. But it is Liverpool that looks harder hit. Mo Salah may miss the game because of a positive COVID test, but it is the defensive unit that has been struck down by injury. Van Dijk was already sidelined for the season in all probability. But now Gomez has been ruled out for a while – and Alexander-Arnold and Robertson may both be unavailable too.

That will make for a very makeshift back line at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal. But he should still have the majority of his attacking players to pick up the slack. Although Liverpool has not looked as all-conquering as last season, there has been a renewed spirit on show since the mauling at the hands of Aston Villa. This will be tough, but there are still some very good players fit and ready to play.

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that he can get one over his former club – and it would seem as though this weekend will be the best time to attempt that. But Leicester may also be missing a few players. There is a worry over Schmeichel in goal, although he should be all right to play. But new signing Castagne is still definitely out at the back.

Leicester’s attacking unit should be raring to go, however. Jamie Vardy is looking like one of the deadliest strikers in the EPL once again – and he is ably backed up by a very exciting midfield group, including Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans. Liverpool’s second-string defense could be in for a torrid time.

Although those odds for a Liverpool win are very tempting, I am going to go for the draw due to the lack of defensive experience on the home side. I think Leicester will have enough to break through that rearguard enough times to force at least a sharing of the spoils. This should be a very good game though – whatever the result.