Opposing Norwich a slow burner
Leicester City, off the back of beating Liverpool and being the first team in the league to keep a clean sheet against the Reds this term, have the easiest fixture on the calendar when they host Norwich City on New Year’s Day. According to expected goals (xG), Newcastle United have actually performed worse than the Canaries on expected points, though I do not think that that will be much of a consolation for Norwich supporters. The club continue to achieve their aim of operating as a top 26 club in England, but on the flip side of that they are enduring a second successive embarrassing season in the Premier League.
Background
Remarkably, Norwich have managed to score just eight goals in 19 outings which is equal to half of the season. Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham put together pitiful attempts to stay in the division last term, with Fulham finishing in 18th with a terrible total of 28 points. The Blades were rock bottom with 23, Norwich are on course to do even worse and be forced to reset once again in the Championship.
Process
Leicester have been nowhere near at the level that they were when they achieved fifth placed finishes in 2019/20 and 2020/21 this term. The Foxes will face Randers in the first knockout round of the Europa Conference League hoping to win a trophy for the second consecutive season under Brendan Rodgers. Leicester sit ninth in the table and face a tall order to break into the European qualification conversation, but demonstrated their class in getting the better of Liverpool in their last outing.
They have been similarly poor at the back like Norwich with very few clean sheets, but have proven in recent years that they can put streaks together and cast aside the lesser teams in the league.
Goals?
Not my angle into this one, but it is worth taking a look at Norwich’s demise in looking to oppose them in the second half of the season.
- Leicester have scored in nine of ten.
- Leicester have conceded in eight of ten.
- Leicester have seen both teams score in seven of ten.
- Leicester have seen over 2.5 goals in nine of ten.
- Norwich have scored in four of ten, but just one of six.
- Norwich have conceded in nine of ten.
- Norwich have seen both teams score in four of ten.
- Norwich have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
Value is value, so amongst a busy week I am happy to take a very short price here, with the insurance that our stake is returned should the Foxes only win by one goal.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Postponed.