TSM vs Team Liquid: Team Liquid Heading Into the Match as Strong Favorites

• TSM will play against Team Liquid this Thursday in the LCS Summer 2023 season. Team Liquid are favorites to win the match. 
• Team Liquid have won seven, lost five of their matches in the league this season, and are sitting in fourth place on the table.  
• TSM have won six and lost six of their matches this season. They are in greater need of a win in this match, as a loss could see them lose out on a playoff spot.

The two sides have similar records this year, but Team Liquid go into this match as favorites because they’ve beaten TSM earlier in the season. Neither of these teams made the playoffs last season; both look much better this season, with Team Liquid sitting at fourth place and TSM just below them at fifth.

TSM vs Team Liquid Pick

• Pick: Team Liquid to win.

TSM vs Team Liquid Predictions

Team Liquid are slight favorites heading into this match for two reasons: they’ve won one match more than Team Liquid this season and beaten TSM earlier in the season. The smart pick would be betting on them to do it again, and we can’t provide a strong argument for saying otherwise.

Neither of these teams qualified for the playoffs last season, so being in the playoff places is a positive, but neither of them have confirmed qualification for the knockouts yet, which is why this is a massive game. Both sides have used different macro strategies to improve this season, and the strategies have worked relatively well: Team Liquid didn’t make any changes to the roster, which has helped them build greater chemistry, whereas TSM have added two new players (Wild Turtle and Insanity) who have made an immediate impact. 

Both sides are going into this game in good form, which will spice things up a bit more. Team Liquid have won their last two matches, whereas TSM have won three in a row; neither side will want to slow down the momentum. 

Team Liquid have the better head-to-head record, with 12 wins in 21 matches. The head-to-head record shows just how tight things are between the two teams, but Team Liquid seem to have a slight edge in every category worth looking into, from points total to recent form; it’s why we suggest going with the safe bet for this match. 

TSM Have Hit a Great Run of Form  

TSM couldn’t have asked for a better time to face Team Liquid. They’ve won their last three matches in the competition; this sort of momentum is vital for a team that are often perceived as just a tiny step below Team Liquid in terms of quality. Of course, Team Liquid are also on a good run of form, so TSM shouldn’t be oblivious to the feel-good factor in the other camp.  

The arrival of WildTurtle and Insanity in the summer has helped the team massively. Both players average over four kills per match and under 2.5 deaths per match. They’ve provided some much-needed quality to the side. TSM also have the experience of Bugi and Chime in the side, who’ve been in the team for a while. The mix of these players has served them well, but they still haven’t confirmed playoff qualification. 

They’re currently tied in 5th place, but another loss could see them drop out of the playoffs spots, which is why this is a massive game for their season. Despite their improvements this season, Team Liquid will be a difficult proposition. They’ll need a lot of luck to get the better of Team Liquid, but we think it might be a step too far. 

Team Liquid Have Looked Solid All Year

Team Liquid made a fantastic start to this season, with three wins in their first three games, before things tailed off a little, but they have found their spark just in time for this big match. They go into this tie as favorites, and rightfully so. They beat TSM earlier in the season and are sitting in fourth place on the league table. With a few more wins, they’ll confirm playoff qualification, which was the goal at the start of the campaign.

One of the big surprises with Team Liquid’s improvement this season is that they didn’t add anyone in the summer, unlike TSM. Sometimes, spending some time on strategies with the same members can lead to big improvements. The staff at the club deserves a lot of credit for showing patience when they could so easily get rid of players and add new ones. 

Unlike TSM, they don’t have anyone averaging over four kills per game this season, either. Haeri, the mid laner, has averaged 3.29 kills per game, 2.58 deaths per game, and 4.88 assists per game this season. Yeon has averaged 3.83 kills per game, 2.08 deaths per game, and 4.33 assists per game. Neither of them have the stats of the best players in TSM, never mind the top players in the top teams, but Team Liquid have shown that there are other ways to improve the team. 

A favorable schedule helped Team Liquid’s quick start to the season. They couldn’t get the better of some of the better teams mid-season, but they’ve won their last two matches. TSM aren't one of the top sides in the league, so Team Liquid will be expected to win this tie. As simple as it sounds, beating the teams that you’re expected to beat can go a long way in defining your season. How they fare against the better teams will be of greater concern once the playoffs start. For now, wins against the likes of TSM will do, and Team Liquid are well-equipped to get the job done.

How to Watch TSM vs Team Liquid

• Teams: TSM vs Team Liquid
• Location: United States of America
• Time: Thursday, July 13, 2023
• How to watch: Twitch