A midweek special as the Premier League delivers a full slate of games over Tuesday and Wednesday evening.
Rub your eyes as hard as you want, the Foxes still sit top of the table at the end of January, just as they were at Christmas.
Leicester City vs. Liverpool
Liverpool handed the Foxes one of their only two league defeats thus far this season.
Both teams can be feast or famine at times. Leicester have had prolonged goal droughts, followed by the odd game where they find the back of the net multiple times. Their winning formula is well known, Riyad Mahrez to Jamie Vardy, or failing that get some chances to fall Shinji Okazaki’s way, while N’Golo Kante tries to boss the midfield.
Liverpool are still an enigma. Who is in their best eleven? I doubt even Jurgen Klopp knows at this early point in his tenure. And they can go from scoring five last weekend in a thriller at Norwich to not even registering a shot on goal in the midweek cup semifinal versus Stoke.
These teams can cancel each other out and also get in their own way at times.
A point will suit all I feel in what should be an even game. And it will keep the Leicester top. The Foxes march on.
Pick: Draw (+240)
Sunderland vs. Manchester City
Sunderland have a new manager now but I think the recent history of these teams will hold. Man City have won 5 of the last 6 in this fixture and each game has gone over 3.5 goals.
In his managerial career Big Sam is 1-0-6 against Pellegrini and his teams have been outscored 21-4.
My thoughts are very clear on this one. With KDB injured, David Silva will resume his role at the heart of everything good for the Citizens. We have been waiting for City to heat up all season and I think the time has come.
I see winning margin of two or three goals here.
Pick: Man City -1 (-120)
Manchester United vs. Stoke City
Without Ryan Shawcross in the lineup I don’t see Stoke having much success. The Potters sit ninth in the table and have scored only 24 goals the season, which is 4th worst.
United have had the pressure eased slightly after a much needed 3-1 win in the FA Cup vs Derby.
Stoke thoroughly handled United at the Britannia earlier this season, but they haven’t won a game at Old Trafford since 1976. I think the Red Devils are catching a mediocre team at the right time and they will lay the wood.
Pick: Man United (-140)
Watford vs. Chelsea
The Goodbye John Terry tour is officially underway. First stop: Vicarage Road.
Headliners will hopefully include the artist formerly known as Eden Hazard, who scored his first goal in 30 games this season from a spot kick during Sunday’s demolition of MK Dons.
He kissed the badge, he blew kisses at the fans and for a moment all us Chelsea fans felt warm and bubbly inside.
Here’s what we know about Guus Hiddink era. Hazard won’t be relied upon to track back and put in quite the defensive shift he was asked to under Jose Mourinho, which one thinks will suit him just fine.
All is forgiven son. Now go on and be the masterpiece that we all know that you are.
Pick: Chelsea (Even)
Next: Chelsea FC Transfer Deadline Roundup Extravaganza
2016 record: 2-2 (even)