Match Prediction: Team Liquid - Talon Esports | Dota 2

We are still talking about the group stage of ESL One Birmingham 2024. We will be doing it for a long time, because there are plenty of matches.

One of them is the stunet clash between Talon Esports and Team Liquid. This will be the third and the last match of the second stream of Group A games.

Let's see how the clash between unequal teams will end, and whether we should expect an unexpected result.

Let's go.

Team Liquid uniforms

Let's open the match with an analysis of Team Liquid's form. In this match they will play as favourites with odds to win at around 1.4.

At DPC 2023: WEU Division 1 Tour 1 Liquid didn't lose a single match, and then took the top 2 at The Lima Major 2023, while playing with substitutes. More than decent.

The second round of the DPC was as similar to the previous round as possible. Liquid again took the Top 1, but now with only one loss in the table. On the international stage, Liquid shone again, but were still overshadowed by Gaimin Gladiators, who took their second Major a Champions Cup of the season.

In their third season, Liquid were no longer able to cement their supremacy. "Liquid" fell to fourth place, but it was good enough to pass at Bali Major 2023, which in the case of the past at The International 2023 Team Liquid does not play any role.

• Liquid lineup: miCKe, Nisha, 33, Boxi, Insania.

After the disappointing result at DreamLeague Season 20, where Team Liquid fell out of the first group stage, there was a feeling that Bali Major 2023 would be held for "Liquid" on the "Mypognye" notes. However, Liquid decided to switch on and play to the full.

And they almost succeeded: they took the top 2, losing in the grand finals to Gaimin Glaidators! Again. Third time at a Major tournament in a year.

Riyadh Masters 2023 Team Liquid started at the Play-In stage, as they surprisingly didn't collect enough ESL ranking points. They finished the Play-In with a 3-1-1 score and second place in Basket A, and then played the group stage with a 3-3-1 statistic, advancing to the top set of play-offs.

At the end of the biggest tournament of the year, Team Liquid finished in the top 2, which can't be called a bad result. Unlike the top-10 at DreamLeague Season 21, which was after the Riyadh Masters 2023 and before Longsong The International 2023.

Team Liquid made it to the next round of the group stage pretty confidently from Group B. "Liquid" took the top 1 by taking a 3-1-0 lead in the series.

In the play-offs seeding match, Liquid faced Evil Geniuses. The Peruvians are not happy at this The International 2023, from which they expectedly lost 0-2 against Liquid.

In the first round of play-offs LIquid met Talon Esports. They won on class, taking two maps. What is true, further went not according to plan: a loss from Spirit and then Gaimin Gladiators, already at the bottom of the table. At the end of the main event of the year Team Liquid took the top 6.

The new season began with a performance at Kuala Lumpur 2023, where they reached TOP-2. In 2024 they played everywhere they could. They also went to BB Dacha and made it to the TOP-2 (lost in the final to Falcons), played on DL Season 22. DreamLeague Season 22 was definitely not a priority, as Liquid were so out of shape that they didn't make it out of the group stage.

There was the 1win series tournament, where Ledge or Spirit went 1-2 in the grand finals and Elite League, where they finished in the top 4.

The first match at ESL One Birmingham 2024 will be a clash against G2.IG. I expect a draw in that match.

Team Liquid's most popular heroes

Team Liquid has Crystal Maiden in the top picks with 7 games and 6 wins.

In addition to Crystal Maiden picks Doom (4 matches, 100% wins), Sven (4 matches, 75% wins), Skywrath Mage (4 matches, 75% wins).

Rubick (4 matches, 25% wins), Void Spirit (3 matches, 100% wins) appear in spades, Underlord, Pangolier, Storm Spirit have 3 matches each and all have 2 wins.

Talon Esports uniforms

We continue the match analysis with the analysis of Talon Esports form. In this match they will play the second number, and the odds for their victory are at around 4.

The team has made it to the top 1 of the region and also reached the heights of Lima Major 2023: in the first round of SEA the team took the 3rd place, in The Lima Major 2023 the same top 3, and in the next round they won the home league.

However, what followed was chaos. The first signs of Talon's fickleness were at DreamLeague S19, when after a solid The Lima Major 2023, the team finished top-12 at a major international event.

At the next Major, The Bali Major 2023, Talon finished in the top 8 before a very mediocre performance at DPC SEA 2023 Tour 3: Division 1, finishing in 4th place in their home league.

The last tournament before the Riyadh Masters 2023 was DreamLeague Season 20. The team finished in the top 4.

• Talon Esports roster: Akashi, ChYuaN, Ws, Jhocam, ponyo.

At the Riyadh Masters 2023 Talon Esports got straight into the group stage, and all thanks to the rating from ESL. They did well in the group stage: they finished in the top 4 and made it to the top play-offs.

In the first match Talon Esports played against Quest Esports. In a very difficult match, being an outsider on paper, Talon Esports managed to win with a score of 2-1.

In the second round of the top set, Talon played the same game against Liquid when Zai ate them ancient during a seemingly victorious trip to Liquid's base. However, Talon didn't get confused at all and in the lower grid first defeated 9 Pandas, and then defeated Gaimin Gladiators, the storm of international dota.

In the match for the exit to the grand final Talon again ran into Liquid and again lost. Thus - top 3 at the Riyadh Masters to add to Talon's prizes for the year.

Before the Long Convergence The International 2023 they visited DreamLeague Season 21, where for some reason they decided to play at half strength. Otherwise I can't explain the team from the top 3 of Riyadh Masters not getting out of the group.

However, apparently the result of DreamLeague S21 was not a coincidence. Talon played disgustingly on the first day, losing to both Tundra and TSM without much chance. Then they managed to comeback by winning the remaining two matches against Keyd Stars and PSG Quest.

In the play-offs seeding match, they faced none other than Gaimin Gladiators. After losing the first map, they cameback on the second and third maps, thus sending the main contender for the Aegis of Champions to the lower grid. However, they didn't manage to move very far, because in play-offs they met BB and, having lost, took TOP-12.

Later there were all kinds of qualifications for all tournaments. The new routine of the renewed competitive scene after TI 2023. From what can be noted, the victory at RES Regional Series: SEA #1, and that's basically it.

At ESL One Birmingham 2024, Talon will start their performance with a match against Shopify Rebellion. That match is probably their only chance for success in the group.

Most popular Talon Esports characters

The most popular Talon Esports character is Tiny. The team swaps his positions, but most often he is sent to position 4. The character has 8 matches and 87% wins.

Next are Natures Phophet (7 games, 100% wins) and Io with Leshrac, who was also picked 7 times and won 6 matches.

Clockwerk (100% wins) and Morphing (60% wins) appeared 5 times each.

History of head-to-head meetings between Talon and Liquid

In the updated lineups Talon and Liquid did not play.

Predicted result of Liquid vs Talon at ESL One Birmingham 2024

Liquid should take this series. Despite not quite good results in recent tournaments, they are still a class above the current Talon, and such a match should not be an obstacle for them.

Bottom line: Liquid win.