England Premier League
Wednesday 27th January 2021
Kick off at 8:15pm GMT
Venue: Goodison Park
Match Preview:
It feels like an age since Everton played and the pandemic has been behind the delays of course. In reality it’s been 2 weeks since the club played a league game and that ended with a terrific 2-1 win away to Wolves. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been one of the most in form teams lately with 4 wins from their last five and they look back to their early season best after a dip.
This is the fun part for Everton fans because although they have slipped down to 6th place they have 2 games in hand over their rivals and if they were to win those then in theory the club would be just two points behind league leaders Manchester United and 4 points in front of city rivals Liverpool, who could have thought this last summer when Liverpool looked light years ahead of every other team?
One worry for Everton though will be their home form where they have won 50% of their games. It isn’t a disaster but clubs who want to finish in a high position would be expecting a rate of around 60% and even higher. Everton are a quality side and you can tell a lot of time has been invested on the training pitch but they can remain a frustrating team. Take the clubs last home game when they came into it on form and West Ham, their opponents were struggling for wins and yet West Ham a team Everton usually beat at Goodison Park came away with the win, and it was another 3 points dropped for the Toffee’s.
At home Ancelotti has adapted from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 mode, it has yielded wins but it was the one used against West Ham also. So it pushes Dominic Calvert-Lewin as an out and out lone striker, one has to wonder if that is the right approach to take?
At the weekend Everton knocked out Sheffield Wednesday in an easy game in the end for them which they won 3-0, they will play Tottenham in the 5th round.
Leicester have been fantastic there is no other word for how the Foxes have been this season. The truth is they have lost a couple of matches you would have expected them to win and they could have actually been five or six points clear.
The Foxes come into this game in 3rd place with 38 points and only goal difference means they are not 2nd. They are unbeaten in their last 5 matches and have won 3 games in a row coming into this one. They reached the FA Cup fifth round at the weekend and their last game ended with a 2-0 win over Chelsea, a result that ultimately cost Frank Lampard his job.
Brendan Rodgers side were beaten by Everton earlier in the season but they have the 2nd best away record in the league where they have earned an incredible 22 points from 27. Leicester have lost just once this season on the road and that was against Liverpool in a 3-0 defeat and Everton will be hoping that losing on Merseyside is an good omen for them.
Team News:
Everton: Abdoulaye Doucoure is suspended for this game as he has a 1 match ban. Allan has been pencilled in to return by the end of this month but this game could have come too soon for him.
Leicester: Jamie Vardy has been ruled out as he needed an operation on his hernia. He isn’t expected back for a couple of weeks. Wes Morgan is out for a couple of weeks for unknown reasons.
Everton vs Leicester Head to Head:
Everton won this fixture last season 2-1.
Everton have won 4 out of the last six league meetings against Leicester.
The correct score of 2-1 has happened in four out of the last six meetings.
There is a 60% chance to see over 2.5 goals.
Everton vs Leicester Prediction:
Leicester are a very good side but they have been dealt a blow as Jamie Vardy is missing, not only is he an influence on the field wth all of his goals but also in the changing room. Still the Foxes have plenty of quality in their side and are in form and do have one of the best away records. They will also want to avenge their recent defeat against Ancelotti’s side.
Everton are full of confidence even if slightly underwhelming at home and they really have to assert themselves in this fixture, if they do, they will in turn dictate the pace of the game and in all probability come away with a win. Calvert-Lewin will want to get back to scoring goals in the league after he did so well in the FA Cup at the weekend.
This is a really close call but we think the home side can get the win but also suffer at times here, it could be a high scoring game even if Ancelotti is trying to build strength in Everton’s defence and keep it tight at the back. Everton need to come out and take some risks to get victory over an excellent Leicester side.
Everton vs Leicester Betting Tips:
Asian handicap (0.0 Everton) at 2.05
Anytime goalscorer: Dominic Calvert Lewin at 2.50
Goal line (Over 2) at 1.55
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