Leicester v Liverpool: Reds remain unbackable at short prices

Brendan Rodgers is enduring his toughest test yet as a manager.

Leicester and Liverpool meet in front of the BT Sport cameras this Tuesday. Jaymes Monte previews the game as two sides in poor form look for a much-needed three points...

Leicester v Liverpool
Tuesday December 2, 2014
BT Sport 1

Leicester
Saturday's 3-2 defeat at QPR means that Leicester have now lost six and won none of their last eight games since beating Manchester United 5-3 at the King Power Stadium back in September. And just two points from a possible 24 means that the Foxes now prop up the Premier League table.

Summer signing Leandro Ulloa enjoyed a dream start to life in the Premier League, scoring five in his first five games for Nigel Pearson's side. But since a brace in that 5-3 win against United (and I subsequently added him to my Fantasy team) he has now failed to score in eight, with Leicester failing to find the back of the net in six of those games. Esteban Cambiasso's opener at Loftus Road was The Foxes' first goal in more than 500 minutes of football.

The hosts are without midfielder Dean Hammond due to a calf injury, while Matthew Upson is yet to feature this season. Other than that Pearson has a fully fit squad to chose from. There may, however, be a temptation to replace the misfiring Ulloa with David Nugent, who has featured as a second-half substitute in each of the last two games.

Liverpool
Glen Johnson's late header against Stoke on Saturday earned Liverpool their first win in six games in all competitions, while the 1-0 scoreline also meant that it was a first clean sheet in seven for Simon Mignolet. The Reds have lost to Crystal Palace and Newcastle and drawn 0-0 at home to Hull in the past six weeks, leaving last season's title challenge as a distant memory.

Rickie Lambert has scored two in three games since replacing the injured Mario Balotelli in the Reds' starting XI, and had a big hand to play in the goal on Saturday as Johnson reacted quickest to Lambert's own header which rebounded off the bar.

Steven Gerrard was dropped to the substitutes' bench at the weekend and took up his place there alongside 87million worth of summer signings. Brendan Rodgers has insisted that his captain was rested with a busy upcoming schedule in mind and we should therefore anticipate a return to the team this midweek. Daniel Sturridge continues to be sidelined by a thigh injury.

Match Odds
Despite taking three points at the weekend and despite the fact that they are playing a drastically out-of-form Leicester side that sit bottom of the table and have lost six of their last eight, Liverpool are not a side that I can back at a price of 2.0621/20.

The Reds' only success in their last seven away games in all competitions was an extremely fortuitous victory at QPR, when two own goals helped them to a 3-2 win.

On the flip side, neither are Leicester a side that I could justify backing, even at a slightly more appealing 4.03/1. This is probably a market best avoided, but if you do feel inclined to play then the 3.711/4 available on the Draw appears to be the best option.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals
This market does, however, give us something to get our teeth stuck into. Liverpool haven't scored more than a single goal in any of their last five Premier League games, while Leicester have failed to find the back of the net in six of their last eight.

Therefore it is somewhat surprising that Under 2.5 goals should be priced as big as 2.01/1 here.

First Goalscorer
One glimmer of light to emerge from Liverpool's recent plight is the form of striker Rickie Lambert. In a fashion that somewhat typifies his career, the former Southampton man has dug deep and grasped with both hands the opportunity to represent his boyhood club. If there are to be goals this Tuesday night then I fancy Lambert will be involved, and at 6.05/1 to score the opener he's worth taking a chance on. Lambert 1-0 is also available at odds of 30.029/1 in the Scorecast market.

Recommended Bet
2pts Under 2.5 goals @ 2.01/1

Jaymes Monte 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 28.5 pts
Returned: 33.38 pts
P/L: +4.88 pts