MX23RW : Saturday, July 4 16:41:41| >> :120:14780:14780:
Jul 1, 2020 at 6pm UK at Goodison Park
EvertonEverton
2-1
LeicesterLeicester City
Richarlison (10'), Sigurdsson (16' pen.)
Pickford (75')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Iheanacho (51')
Ndidi (54')

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.

Leicester City will resume their search for a first win since the Premier League restarted when they take on Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

The Foxes still sit third in the table but have seen their Champions League spot come under threat, while hosts Everton still have an outside chance of European qualification next season too.


Match preview

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers pictured on June 23, 2020© Reuters

Whatever happens in the final seven games of this season, it has still been a memorable campaign for Leicester - one of their best ever in the top flight.

However, having laid such impressive foundations with 12 wins from their opening 16 games this season, they will not want to throw that away in the closing stages of the coronavirus-affected campaign.

Matters are still very much in the hands of Brendan Rodgers's side - they still sit third in the table, surpassing all pre-season expectations to remain well on course for a return to the Champions League in 2020-21.

However, they have won just four of their last 15 top-flight outings, including just one of their last seven and neither of their games since returning to action, to see their lead over fifth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers cut to only three points.

Draws against relegation-threatened pair Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion have both been disappointing, with the latter seeing them need a Kasper Schmeichel penalty save to avoid defeat.

It was also the fourth time in their last six league games that they have failed to score, and they drew another blank in the FA Cup on Sunday as Ross Barkley's goal fired Chelsea into the semi-finals.

Everton's Michael Keane celebrates scoring against Norwich City on June 24, 2020© Reuters

Everton have not exactly been free-scoring of late either, finding the back of the net just once in their last three league games, but they did at least return to winning ways against Norwich City last time out.

Many may have been expecting a more comfortable win than their 1-0 triumph at the Premier League's basement side, but Carlo Ancelotti will not have been complaining at a timely three points to end a four-game winless streak.

Everton were a whisker away from inflicting a rare defeat on Liverpool in the derby too, and they will take confidence from that performance heading into their second home game back since the restart.

The Toffees are the only Premier League side still unbeaten at home in 2020 across all competitions, while their ongoing streak of seven without defeat stretches back to Leicester's last visit in December, when the Foxes won an EFL Cup tie on penalties.

Everton's last Premier League defeat on home territory came way back in November, since when they have faced six of the teams currently above them in the table and taken an impressive 12 points from the 18 on offer.

Ancelotti's side are just four points adrift of the final Europa League qualification spot and that will surely be their goal for the remainder of the season, particularly with matches against fellow hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Sheffield United to come.

Everton Premier League form: WLDLDW

Leicester Premier League form: DLLWDD
Leicester form (all competitions): LWWDDL


Team News

James Maddison in action for Leicester on June 20, 2020© Reuters

Leicester are expected to be without playmaker James Maddison once again for this one after he missed the FA Cup clash with Chelsea due to a hip injury which has required an injection.

Rodgers admitted that he is a doubt for this game but should be fine to return against Crystal Palace at the weekend, which could mean another start for Dennis Praet.

Ricardo Pereira and Daniel Amartey remain sidelined, while Jamie Vardy will once again go in search of his 100th Premier League goal having drawn blanks in both games since the return so far.

Everton, meanwhile, could welcome Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph back into the fold for the first time since lockdown.

The match is likely to come too soon for Djibril Sidibe due to inflammation on his foot, while Theo Walcott will also be forced to wait a little bit longer for his return.

Cenk Tosun and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are both long-term absentees for the Toffees.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Digne; Iwobi, Davies, Gomes, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Gray, Tielemans, Praet, Barnes; Vardy


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Everton 1-1 Leicester

Leicester have won the last three editions of this fixture and are looking for four in a row against Everton for the first time ever, but the Foxes' form in recent months has not matched their lofty league position.

Everton are yet to concede a goal since the restart and, for a misfiring Leicester attack, that could see them forced to share the spoils yet again.


ID:404370:

Who will win Wednesday's Premier League clash between Everton and Leicester?

Everton
Draw
Leicester
Everton
31.0%
Draw
30.6%
Leicester
38.5%
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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers pictured in December 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool32282270254586
2Manchester CityMan City32213881334866
3Leicester CityLeicester33177963313258
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd331510856332355
5Chelsea321661057441354
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves331314645341153
7Arsenal33111484741647
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32121193332147
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs32129115144745
10Burnley32136133645-945
11Everton32128124047-744
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle32119123343-1042
13Crystal Palace33119132840-1242
14Southampton32124164155-1440
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton33812133544-936
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3286183856-1830
17Watford32610162949-2028
18Aston Villa3276193660-2427
19Bournemouth3376203259-2727
20Norwich CityNorwich3356222561-3621

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