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Everton vs Leicester City: 27/01/2021 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Everton vs Leicester City

Date: 27/01/2021

K/O: 20:15

Venue: Goodison Park

Referee: Mike Dean

TV: BT Sport

Two top-four contenders face off in yet another six-pointer on Wednesday evening as Everton host Leicester City for vital points in the increasingly heated race to be in the European spots at the end of the season.

A victory for the Toffees would drag them back up to fourth in the table with two games still in hand. Meanwhile, a victory for Leicester, and a continuation in their fantastic January form, would mean batting away contenders and keeping themselves comfortably at the very top of the table. Every game counts in the Premier League, and a single win can make or break a season. But there are some fixtures more important than others, and this is certainly one of them.

Games in-hand hide Toffees strength

Although COVID complications have stilted Everton and Carlo Ancelotti’s January playing time, their table position is not truly weakened because of it. Everton have a total of three games in hand, the joint-most in the league, and a number that could result in an additional nine points.

Despite this fact, Everton have maintained a good table position, lying in 7th with 32 points. If they were to win all of these games and take the total amount of points, they would be lifted up to 41 points – all the way back up to second in the table, and only behind Manchester City on goal difference. Though this would also require them to win against the Citizens, which is easier said than done at the moment.

But even two wins would put them equal with their opponents this evening, Leicester City, while dragging back the Foxes in the process. With their current League form, this is entirely possible, however a lack of game time could harm their chances by stifling their intensity. The Toffees have only won one Premier League game in the New Year (Leicester have won three), and while two wins in the FA Cup definitely help, Everton risk being off the pace when they come up against in-form Leicester City.

But a win against an in-form team would set them up perfectly for their coming run of games against sides such as Leeds and Manchester United, and it is frankly necessary for them to get one as to not allow their apparent table position to dictate where they could be when – or if – the fixtures go their way. One slip can lead to a tumble, as Chelsea have all too clearly shown, and it is now when teams at the top need to be most sure of their footing.

Foxes form breakaway

Leicester City are right near the top of the Premier League – and they look comfortable there. The Foxes have been scintillating in January, with three wins from three including over Southampton and Frank Lampard’s final league game in charge of Chelsea; strangely enough, a defeat away at the King Power Stadium was also responsible for Jose Mourinho’s sack from the club in the 15/16 season (Thomas Tuchel has probably already sent Brendan Rodgers a thank you card for securing him a job).

Further than right at the top, Leicester seems to be part of a new “breakaway” group at the very top, alongside the two Manchester clubs. The Foxes have created a four-point gap between them and Liverpool, and have a three-point lead over West Ham who have played an additional game. Only Everton, with their possible points from games in hand, could join into this breakaway group, and were the Foxes to win on Wednesday they would deny this from happening and retain their place in the breakaway group.

While initial signs for this fixture may look doubtful, the absence of Jamie Vardy and their loss to the Toffees at home, these factors will not phase Brendan Rodgers’ side. Jamie Vardy is actually yet to score in 2020, which is telling for how good Leicester are performing. Against Southampton he was especially off-form, missing a number of chances, with the pain of his hernia injury clearly playing on his form. When he returns after surgery, expect him to be firing on all cylinders again.

But without Vardy, who shall take centre stage for Leicester? This question has already been answered: James Maddison. The young midfielder has been in frightening form of late, having scored four goals in his last four games. The pressure will be on him, but that’s exactly what a player like Maddison wants. When all eyes are on him – that’s when he will step up.

Team News

Everton

Carlo Ancelotti will be without midfielders Abdoulaye Doucouré, serving a one-match suspension, and Allan, suffering a hamstring injury, for the Leicester game. However, James Rodriguez is expected to return for the Toffees. Other than their long terms injuries to the likes of Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, the Toffees have a fully fit squad and a number of options to utilise against the Foxes.

Leicester City

The big news for Leicester is, of course, the lack of Jamie Vardy following minor surgery for a hernia problem. Other than the striker, Leicester remain without Dennis Praet, also out long term with a hamstring issue, but have no other missing players in their squad.

Predicted Starting XIs

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Mina, Digne; André Gomes, Davies; Rodriguez, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans; Albrighton, Maddison, Barnes; Perez

Score Prediction: Everton 1-2 Leicester

This, for me, is too tight to call. Both teams seem equally matched in quality, but if anyone was to pip it I would put my bet is on the Foxes who are in fantastic form and love playing (and winning) away from home.

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