Only elephant in Leicester’s room could yet see Spurs profit
Published:
Leicester City continue to reap Premier League points in title-winning fashion, but should the most improbable pursuit of England’s top prize falter at the crucial stage, then the cruellest of scenarios could come to fruition.
Consultation of the history books, other than those concerning King Richard III of course, is perhaps best avoided for Foxes fans right now.
2011/12 example
Manchester United’s legions spent the vast majority of Premier League years delirious with glory, but in 2011/12 the Red Devils were dealt an organ-rattling blow, and not just because that particular title went the way of their ‘noisy neighbours’.
Manchester City snatched the title rug from beneath United feet by the margin of goal difference alone.
A cursory glance at the 2015/16 table after 31 games offers Leicester stacks of hope that such a nightmare outcome can be avoided, or does it?
Tottenham are a full five points in arrears with seven to play, albeit the Lilywhites boast a virtually unassailable nine-goal lead in the GD column.
The pair do not meet again either, so that’s another factor firmly in the Foxes favour.
The parallels to now
Still, it may unsettle a few already fraying nerves at the King Power Stadium to learn that United were all of five points clear at this exact juncture of the ‘11/12 campaign, where City were just one goal better off in the GD department.
The big difference being that a pivotal Manchester derby lay in wait with only three games remaining, so that did account for City taking a chunk out of the deficit at the Etihad.
However, the relative fragility of a five-point lead was still exposed over seven matches.
With neither Mauricio Pochettino, Claudio Ranieri or their respective squads armed with the title run-in nous, it remains nigh-on impossible to predict the outcome, though the Midlanders are understandably fancied by most.
Leicester’s to lose still
Only once have Leicester suffered anything approaching a slump this season, when they only picked up five points from 15 available over Christmas.
But given the disparity in this sudden-death deciding total, not to mention the uncharted waters they are entering, Spurs’ price of 11/4 does carry an extra coating of attraction, compared to the odds-on Foxes at 8/13.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
