Everton 1-1 Leicester: 3 things learned from Foxes draw

Leicester salvaged a crucial point at a negative Everton side to extend their unbeaten run to nine games.

Another away day dominating performance where Leicester City come away with something, although in this instance it was less than they deserved. Given James Rodriguez’s outstanding first half strike and Everton’s deep block it was looking like a frustrating night beckoned, but with Leicester holding onto the ball confidently they made the breakthrough when Youri Tielemans long range shot was fumbled by Jordan Pickford. despite more dominance the foxes had to be content with a point. so what 3 things did we learn about Leicester from this game.

Leicester City are a far better football team than Everton

This already sounds like some sort of footballing aestheticism, but there is a case in point here that needs to be addressed. Brendan Rodgers has devised an incredible set up of footballing talent at Leicester City with every one of his players taking to the pitch, comfortable on the ball and maximising the use of the space all over the pitch.

Carlo Ancelotti for this game and many others has devised a team extremely well organised that doesn’t allow teams to attack easily. The way he set up against Leicester was effective but astonishingly negative. The tactic was to deny Leicester any space in behind and ensure that Jordan Pickford was well protected. Leicester’s defenders were barely closed down up until Everton took the lead and after that it was non-existent. Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the front line leader was regularly seen sat 35 yards from his own goal as the furthest Everton player forward.

This tactic wouldn’t be so bad had a quick counter been built-in especially after the toffees had the advantage but they retreated further and further. Sometimes the Everton back line was sat as far back as the six yard box on free kicks. If this was a normal night at Goodison Park with 40,000 Toffees screaming i doubt they’d have let them get away with that level of negativity.

Leicester in contrast were slick and eager to play through the lines with quick movement and threaded accurate passing. As the game wore on they pressed hard down both wings with both full backs pushing Everton back deep. It’s somewhat ironic, then, that that the equalising goal came from Youri Tielemans shot outside the box that Jordan Pickford should really have saved. Despite Leicester’s dominance they could still have come away with nothing after some poor defending on corners saw Richarlison and Gomes squander good chances.