Leicester City travel to Everton’s Goodison Park on Wednesday evening looking to win their first game of the restart and end their poor run of form.
Following Sunday’s 1-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea, attention redirects back to the Premier League and Leicester City’s Champions League quest.
After beginning the year badly, the Foxes now sit three points clear of Wolves in fifth-placed with a game in hand.
In their way of only a third victory in the past 10 league games, is Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton. Currently sat 12th, the Toffees are three points away from Tottenham Hotspur in the final Europa League place meaning Wednesday’s fixture has much on the line for both teams.
With three games now in the tank for Leicester, many will be hoping that the cobwebs have vanished and the football that was on display at King Power Stadium will finally return.
Two disappointing results to Watford and Brighton, Everton now seems a ‘must-win’ for Brendan Rodgers’ side. After already defeating the Merseyside side twice this season, the confidence will be brewing in the City camp.
But, with Everton now losing at home since their 2-0 defeat to Norwich City at the end of 2019, the three points will not come easy.
Brendan Rodgers is a draw specialist against Everton
Ever since his managerial career kick-started in 2008 with Watford, Rodgers has faced Everton 11 times and only beat them three times. Of course, two of them wins have been since his arrival at Leicester (the 2-1 victory in December followed by the penalty shoot-out victory in the Carabao Cup).
Whilst at Liverpool, Rodgers only win against Everton came in 4-0 thrashing at Anfield back in 2014. His three years as manager at Liverpool also produced six draws, with his last game in charge being a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
However, it’s not all bad. The Toffees have not defeated the Leicester manager since 2012 when David Moyes led his side to a 2-0 victory at Liberty Way.
In terms of the head-to-head record between the two sides, Everton have not managed a victory against the Foxes since October 2018. It was 10 months prior to that win, where Goodison Park last witnessed a win over Leicester thanks to a Theo Walcott double.
With Leicester currently occupying the top-four in the Premier League, Everton have struggled against the better teams. With their last win against beat the top six coming against Chelsea in December, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting the decisive goals, Ancelotti’s side will have to be at their best if they are going to overcome their opponents.
Can Jamie Vardy end his barren run of form with Leicester City?
It was only a week and a half ago since Leicester fans were discussing the prospect of Jamie Vardy reaching 100 Premier League goals ahead of the game with Watford.
Three games later the league’s top-scorer has only managed one clear-cut opportunity, which he dragged wide on Sunday. Vardy has struggled with opportunities that seemed easy for the Foxes striker when the side were storming up the league.
With James Maddison missing Chelsea and a doubt for Wednesday, responsibility will fall to players like Harvey Barnes, Ayoze Perez and Youri Tielemans to involve Vardy into the action.
LCFC‘s No.9 record against Everton is an attracted figure, contributing to 12 goals in 10 games. He equalised in the reverse fixture this season and scored the winner in this fixture last season on New Year’s Day. You remember it, right? He shocked us all with a back-flip! A further two goals in 2017/18 followed the two he scored during the title lifting game in 2016.
Vardy, who is renowned for his form against the ‘better teams’, will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Everton on Wednesday. All it takes is one win and one goal from the former England man to raise the spirits of the following.
Foxes of Leicester‘s predicted XI for the clash is: Kasper Schmeichel, James Justin, Caglar Soyuncu, Jonny Evans, Christian Fuchs, Wilfred Ndidi, Dennis Praet, Tielemans, Barnes, Perez and Vardy.