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Preview: Everton vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Premier League clash between Everton and Leicester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Everton and Leicester City face off at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening, both aiming to maintain their impressive Premier League form.

The Toffees have won five of their last six top-flight games, while Leicester have won three in a row in the competition and are unbeaten in six.


Match preview

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers reacts on January 24, 2021© Reuters

This campaign is shaping up to be one to remember for Everton and Leicester, who are not only flying high in the Premier League but are also through to round five of the FA Cup.

Everton saw off Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 on Sunday and Leicester were 3-1 winners against another Championship side in Brentford.

Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers will welcome a run deep into the world's most famous domestic cup competition, but for now focus is back on the Premier League.

The Toffees may trail their opponents by six points, but they have two games in hand. Win those and it will be the title Ancelotti is targeting, rather than just the top four.

A 1-0 home loss to West Ham United aside, Everton have been in superb form over the past six weeks, collecting 15 points from the past 18 on offer.

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on January 24, 2021© Reuters

One concern for Ancelotti, though, will be his side's form at Goodison Park, where they have lost three of their last five in the Premier League.

Only Manchester United have collected more points on their travels in the English top flight this term than Leicester, meanwhile, the Foxes having won seven out of nine.

However, City have won only two of their 14 away Premier League games against Everton (D7 L5), including a 2-1 loss in this corresponding fixture last season.

Rodgers's side are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, winning the last five of those, including three in a row in the Premier League.

That run leaves them two points off top spot with half of the campaign played, giving supporters hope that the one-off title success of 2015-16 may yet be repeated.

Losing Jamie Vardy for up to a couple of weeks could potentially derail Leicester's title aspirations but, should they overcome this tough Goodison Park test, anything is possible.

Everton Premier League form: WWWWLW
Everton form (all competitions): LWLWWW

Leicester City Premier League form: WDDWWW
Leicester City form (all competitions): DWWWWW


Team News

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy pictured on November 8, 2020© Reuters

Vardy's hip surgery is unlikely to rule the striker out for too long, but he will sit out this trip to Goodison Park and possibly the visit of Leeds United next week.

Kelechi Iheanacho is the obvious choice to fill in for Vardy, but Ayoze Perez was selected against Brentford and may retain his place here.

Rodgers's injury list is otherwise clearing up, with Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Soyuncu among those now back in contention.

As for the home side, Lucas Digne and Alex Iwobi are in line to make their returns from injury in a major boost for Ancelotti.

Another major plus for the Italian coach is that Dominic Calvert-Lewin ended a six-game goal drought at the weekend and will be raring to go here.

Allan and Fabian Delph remain sidelined, while Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a long-term absentee for the Toffees.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Holgate, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Doucoure, Gomes; Iwobi, Rodriguez, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Albrighton, Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison, Barnes; Perez


SM words green background

We say: Everton 1-2 Leicester City

Everton won the reverse fixture and are seeking a third league victory in a row against Leicester for the first time since 1980.

The Toffees have been in good form, but they have had some mixed results at Goodison Park over the past couple of months and we can see away-day specialists Leicester prevailing.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:432063:cQx

How you voted: Everton vs Leicester

Everton
36.3%
Draw
15.7%
Leicester City
48.0%
325
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Kasper Schmeichel in action for Leicester City on July 16, 2020
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City20135237132444
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd21125437271041
3Liverpool21117343241940
4Leicester CityLeicester21123637251239
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2110563127435
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs2096534211333
7Chelsea2196635231233
8Everton1910362924533
9Aston Villa19102734211332
10Arsenal219482620631
11Southampton208572725229
12Leeds UnitedLeeds209293536-129
13Crystal Palace217592536-1126
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2165102130-923
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2164112134-1322
16Burnley2064101326-1322
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton214982329-621
18Fulham2028101729-1214
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2126131750-3312
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2122171234-228

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