LEICESTER VS EVERTON: Leicester team news, predicted line up (4-2-1-3) and predicted result: Vardy, Barnes and to start as Iheanacho misses out through injury
Leicester’s draw at Elland Road against Leeds United in midweek ultimately earned them another point towards survival, but missed chances from both sides meant either could have won when a draw was not ideal.
One big positive from the fixture was Jamie Vardy scoring his first goal in 20 Premier League games in clinching a late equaliser for the Foxes. If Leicester can get Vardy back in form for the final few weeks of the season, then that will strongly aid their hopes of staving off relegation.
Dean Smith’s side find themselves back in the bottom three though, despite the point they picked up at Leeds, due to Nottingham Forest’s surprise win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday. It is remarkable that Leicester find themselves in 18th considering they have scored the most goals out of any side in the bottom half.
Having not kept a clean sheet in 18 Premier League encounters goes some way to explaining why, but that did not stop them from claiming all three points in their last home fixture. That 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers has set Leicester up with an opportunity to win back-to-back home games for the first time this season.
Smith has a wonderful record against Everton as well, having never lost in six previous Premier League meetings as a manager.
Defeat at home to Newcastle United has plunged Everton into even deeper trouble, as the club are now on the brink of a first relegation in 72 years.
With Leicester’s weakness evidently being in defence, Everton will likely struggle to take advantage though, considering they remain the league’s lowest scorers with just 25 goals from 33 games. Their consolation goal against Newcastle was also a fortuitous strike direct from a Dwight McNeil corner, as another toothless performance saw them comfortlably beaten.
Team News
Kelechi Iheanacho tore an adductor muscle while setting up the chance for Leicester’s equaliser at Leeds on Tuesday, and Smith believes he could miss the rest of the season.
That could open the door for Vardy to play from the start after his vital goal, with Patson Daka also an option to come in. Defensive duo Jonny Evans and Ricardo Pereira are both closing in on returns to the side, but this fixture may come too soon for both of them.
Ryan Bertrand recently featured for the club’s Under-21s so could feature in the matchday squad, but Jannik Vestergaard and James Justin are out.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Castagne, Faes, Soyuncu, Kristiansen; Tielemans, Soumare, Maddison; Tete, Barnes, Vardy
Predicted result
We say: Leicester City 2-0 Everton
Everton’s away woes are well-documented, and time is running out on their top-flight future if they get anything but a win here.
That looks unlikely though, given the lack of goals in the squad, while Leicester have an abundance of talent going forward who can be game changers.
