Premier League Matchday 8 Odds & Picks: Leicester Could Tame Liverpool This Weekend

• Former Reds’ boss Rodgers leads in-form City to Anfield
• Sheffield United’s away form may punish struggling Watford
• Eighth-placed Bournemouth will test Arsenal at Emirates

England’s Premier League hits its eighth round of fixtures with Liverpool setting the pace but beginning to show some signs of weariness.

Leicester City, along with West Ham and Bournemouth are the smaller clubs challenging towards the higher reaches of the table although Arsenal remain in the leading four while Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are pegged down outside of the top six.

It is a critical weekend, too, for the relegation battle with Sheffield United defying early predictions that they will struggle. They head to face hapless bottom club Watford.

Premier League Matchday 8 Odds

*All odds taken 10/04/19

Pick 1: Liverpool vs Leicester City

Liverpool have won all seven of their EPL games so far to sit five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Three of those victories have come at home on Merseyside. High-flying Leicester City, however, will arrive at Anfield on Saturday better equipped than most to end Jurgen Klopp’s triumphant sequence (Saturday, October 5, Anfield 10.00a.m EST).

Grinding out the wins when under duress is a great habithttps://t.co/3Jcg2tCqYf

— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) October 4, 2019

Leicester are fresh from a 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle United which has underlined the belief that they could be challengers for a top four place this season.

In the search for good value, the offering of +365 for the draw looks very interesting despite Liverpool’s runaway performance so far.

Leicester’s only defeat of the campaign so far came on the road at Manchester United where they lost 1-0 on September 14. But the hammering of Newcastle, preceded by a 2-1 home win against Tottenham, has injected a strong sense of belief into the side.

Their manager Brendan Rodgers is tactically astute enough to devise a way of attempting to corral Liverpool’s rampant strike force of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino who have collectively hit 11 EPL goals.

As a former boss at Anfield, he will have a point to prove. And his team have conceded only five times this season while striker Jamie Vardy is in good form and has hit five league goals.

Jamie Vardy has now scored 16 Premier League goals for Leicester City in 2019.

Only Sergio Aguero (20) and Sadio Mane (18) have scored more. pic.twitter.com/x2FTAzVdij

— Squawka (@Squawka) September 29, 2019

Klopp’s Liverpool side were involved in a draining, helter-skelter Champions League tie in midweek against Red Bull Salzburg, which finished 4-3. It could be a telling factor against a visiting side who have enjoyed a clear week of preparation.

Liverpool also had to battle hard for their most recent EPL win at Sheffield United and did not get their winner in the 1-0 victory until the 70^th minute.

They won no fewer than 17 times in the EPL at home last season while drawing twice. But the first blemish on this season’s 100 per cent home record may be on the way.

Pick: Draw +365

EPL Pick 2: Watford vs Sheffield United

Newly-promoted Sheffield United are in a surprising 12^th place despite being among the favorites for relegation.

They also have the seventh-best away record in the EPL after one win and two draws.

Travelling to face bottom club Watford – who have the worst home record of all 20 clubs so far – they are an excellent price of +255 to pick up a vital win (Saturday, October 5, 10:00am EST).

Watford sacked manager Javi Gracia and replaced him with former coach Quique Sanchez Florez.

At first, the change helped. The team hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against Arsenal.

But then came an 8-0 hammering at Manchester City followed by a 2-0 defeat at Wolves last weekend.

"I'm not bothered about pride, I'm bothered about results!"

A frank Chris Wilder is disappointed after his side fell to defeat against Liverpool. His Sheffield United side aren't just here to make up the numbers! 👊

🎙: @DesKellyBTS pic.twitter.com/XVxfigKaF8

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 28, 2019

Along with the draw against Arsenal, Watford have lost twice at home – conceding eight goals and scoring only three times.

Chris Wilder’s tough and organized Sheffield United side won 2-0 at Everton on their most recent road trip. They drew at Chelsea and Bournemouth.

They have scored five times away from home while conceding only three.

Frustrated but also uplifted by the gritty performance against Liverpool despite the defeat, Wilder will see the visit to Watford as a chance to inflict damage upon a team who could be relegation rivals at a later stage of the season.

Pick: Sheffield United to win +255

EPL Pick 3: Arsenal vs Bournemouth

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last three games and are in eighth place.

Their trip to Arsenal could feasibly offer them a point at an inviting +395 for the draw (Sunday, October 6, Emirates Stadium, 10.00 a.m EST).

Although Arsenal won comfortably 4-0 in their Europa League home game against Standard Liege, midweek exertions in the competition often have an effect on weekend performance.

EH: "We've trained well and the boys are believing in themselves and how we work.

"We have to be very level however, I say it but I really feel there is more to come."#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/6Bf3OIEIeT

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 4, 2019

Bournemouth have the fourth-best away record in the EPL after wins at Southampton and Aston Villa and a defeat at Leicester.

Arsenal have the seventh best home record after beating Burnley and Aston Villa and drawing with London rivals Tottenham. But they had to come from 2-1 down late on in that most recent home date against Villa.

This looks an intriguing chance for the smaller outfit to gain something away in London.

Pick: Draw +395