Everton v Leicester: Injury news and predicted starting XI for vital EPL tie

Leicester City travel to Goodison Park to face with Frank Lampard’s Everton. Both teams have a lot to play for, so here is all the news ahead of the tie.

The King Power club are still reeling from another disappointing defeat, this time to Newcastle United. With two goals from the Magpies’ new starman Bruno Guimaraes, our chance to progress up the table has slipped.

However, with our games in hand coming into play, the Foxes can now go on and at least finish above mid-table. That does mean actually winning against teams who have a lot to play for. Everton will be tougher than you would hope at the moment.

Leicester City getting fitter

Despite some high-profile injuries in the squad, Brendan Rodgers does have a fine selection of talent to choose from, and some brilliant stars from the U23s who can always fill in where necessary. Our available team is perfectly capable of winning.

However, those still absent include Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi, Ryan Bertrand, Boubakary Soumare, and Danny Ward. Luckily for the Northern Irishman, both ‘Bouba’ and ‘Wardy’ are back on training pitches, but will likely not be fit enough to play against Everton.

So, although the myriad of absences are finally coming to a close, it may be too little too late for the team which has struggled with form drop offs, illnesses, and injuries constantly through the season. Leicester still have time to change this. Thank goodness Ayoze Perez is no longer ill.

Predicted starting XI

Considering the importance of the fixture, there is little doubt that Rodgers will have to select a team based on quality. Hopefully this includes a consideration of form, though I am not expecting him to drop either Harvey Barnes or Youri Tielemans.

I expect a 4-2-1-3 formation for the Foxes. Kasper Schmeichel will start in goal, a backline of Timothy Castagne, Jonny Evans, Wesley Fofana, and Ricardo Pereira, a midfield of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Youri Tielemans, and James Maddison, and a front three of Harvey Barnes, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Ayoze Perez.

However, my preferences are slightly different. The gaffer should put Caglar Soyuncu alongside our French wonderkid to protect Evans for the Roma tie. James Justin should stay in for ‘Ricky P’ playing from the left. The Belgian ‘Starman’ should be dropped for Hamza Choudhury. Finally, Barnes should be dropped for Ademola lookman.

What team would you like to see play against the Toffees? Let Foxes of Leicester know on our social media channels.