It’s time for Burnley’s 2020-21 Premier League opener.
Well, not quite time. This is just a preview. But the time’s getting close.
Whom:
Burnley at Leicester City
What:
Soccer. Footie. The game with the feet. Whatever you want to call it, they’re playing it, and they’re doing it as an official EPL game.
Where:
Leicester. Business trip for the lads (I hope Bertie brought his suit).
When:
1:00 PM American Central Daylight Time
How to Watch:
It appears the match will be on NBCSN, if you get that (I need to check if I get that).
What’s at Stake:
It’s the season opener for the Clarets, and it’s a road game against one of the better teams in the EPL. My assumption would be that the goal for Leicester is a win, and the goal for Burnley is maybe just #RoadPoints? Or road point, rather. Singular. Winning would be neat, but playing to a draw would be effective, and if they do lose, it could wind up important to keep it close. Don’t want goal differential keeping our lads from the Europa League when the time comes.
The Odds:
As of the time I write this (9:00 Saturday morning, and no I’m not working ahead, I just thought the game was Saturday), BetMGM—the sportsbook that feeds into the YAHOO SPORTS APP™—has Leicester as a -167 favorite, with Burnley at +475 to win and +300 to draw. So the implied probability of a Burnley win is roughly 20%, the probability of a draw is roughly 23.5%, and the probability of a loss is roughly 56.5%. For what it’s worth, FiveThirtyEight has it similar: 18%, 25%, 58%.
The Opponent:
You’ve heard of Leicester. I’ve heard of Leicester. They’re the guys who made that improbable run to win the Premier League a few years back. Last year, the Moleicesters finished fifth in the EPL, so be sure to congratulate them and wish them luck in the 2020/21 Europa League. They’ll begin play in that sometime around October.
Last year, the Burnleys split with Leicester, beating them 2-1 at Turf Moor and losing 2-1 in the road match.
Transfer Window News:
Nothing new that I see.
Other News:
Our friends Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Ashley Barnes, Ben Mee, and Jack Cork should all be out, with Barnes seeming to be the closest to a return. James Tarkowski, as of the time I write this, is questionable—but not because he’s on the verge of a sale, unless I have been duped and have accidentally stumbled into the duping without even being the intended audience for such deception.
Bertie News:
Unclear if our favorite bee is making the trip. We can only hope.
