Team SoloMid vs Team Liquid

What a truly fascinating match-up, one that is also supremely important for the LCS standings and the region as a whole. We're talking about two veritable North American giants, but also two teams that are bit too flawed and/or inconsistent for our liking. They're still spectacular, there's no doubt about it, but they haven't always been able to deliver once their backs were against the wall.

Be that as it may, they're a part of the LCS pantheon, and have done more than enough to warrant our benefit of the doubt. Team SoloMid, in particular, have been a lot more cohesive overall, although they still have "off days." Perhaps their biggest flaw is the fact that they rely a bit too much on late-game team comps and execution. That's not a bad approach in and of itself, but to pull it off consistently you need to have a solid enough early game, without ever making any egregious mistakes whatsoever. Team SoloMid, on the other hand, are bit too volatile and -- at worst -- clumsy. Plus, they don't always punish and capitalize on the openings their opponents give them, so we're still a bit hesitant to fully believe in their chances.

Regardless, they're still one of the best teams in NA and are near the very top of the standings for a reason. Whenever they get on the same page and execute to the best of their ability, it's like watching poetry in motion. They're well-rounded and have some of the best players in the region, so their overall win-loss tally shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

Team Liquid, though, is still a question mark. Jenkins and Armao are better than expected, but they're still nowhere near as capable of dangerous as the men they had replaced. How high they'll be able to soar once all is said and done still remains to be seen, but it's hard to envision a world in which they stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of 100 Thieves, Team SoloMid, and Cloud9. Then again, if the boys in black and blue don't step up (and do it soon), they might be able to slot into Top 3 and make their 2021 season count.

in the end, we'll side with Team SoloMid on this one and hope for the best. They have all the right tools to emerge victorious, and if they draft to their strengths and give the right players enough agency, they should definitely be able to get the "W" tonight.