Leicester v Everton Preview

Leicester City vs Everton

Sunday 1^st December 4:30pm

King Power Stadium

November for the foxes has been a fruitful one. As the nights have drawn in and the rain has lashed down city have posted 3 wins in the month without conceding a single goal. This Sunday evening sees 5^th from bottom Everton roll up at King Power stadium with a manager under pressure and wins needed to avoid the relegation tractor beam.

The toffees recent form has left manager Marco Silva under heavy pressure, and rumours have been rife of talks with potential replacements for the Portuguese gaffer in recent times.  There has even been question as to whether or not Silva would still be in the dug out for the weekend’s fixture but as the week has developed the former Watford and Hull City manager has taken training an looks like he has a stay of execution for this match up with the league’s success story.

November for Everton served up defeats against Norwich, Southampton and a draw against Spurs, and with stiff opposition in the shape of city on a 6 game winning run both Silva and the toffees look set for a match up that could define the remainder of their season’s fortunes and that of Marco Silva too.

The toffees have 4 players currently undergoing treatment with Jean-Philippe Gbamin  out until the new year. Bernard has a knee problem and his prognosis in unsure, as if Andre Gomes with and ankle problem and Fabian Delph having a Hamstring issue.

Young England U21 international Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the club’s top scorer so far this season with 5 and Brazilian Richarlison has equalled his tally with 2 assists to boot. The toffee’s boast England’s number 1 between the posts in Jordan Pickford, and have experienced personnel capable of creating chances in the shape of former spurs midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson and former England and Arsenal wide man Theo Walcott.

For the foxes the party train kept rolling last weekend with a superb victory away to Brighton and a fancy dress laden trip to Copenhagen for the players.

City are on their best back to back run in the top flight and since passing current champions Manchester City to secure 2^nd spot have performed admirably to maintain their position.  Last week’s 2-0 victory at the Amex saw the foxes absorb for periods without conceding then break with deadly pace and vigour to ensure the 3 points, and back on home turf again will be eager to dictate their play on their Merseyside visitors this time out.

On the injury front Jonny Evans was subbed off suffering from cramp last Saturday and it’s not known currently if he’s recovered to play from the first whistle this weekend. Evans had returned from international duty unwell and had barely training prior to the game against the seagulls, and City boss Brendan Rodgers was quick to explain that had an impact on the situation in the second half of the game. Apart from this and the long term injury road of Matty James Leicester are issue free and will likely be without change for this match in which they could broaden their lead on Man City if the sky blues fail to seal all 3 points away at Newcastle.

With Ayonze Perez seeming to find some good form lately, Jamie Vardy being simply sensational this season, James Maddison’s sublime passing and Caglar Soyunchu the big shock success story of the season Marco Silva might well be fearing that this could be the last time he takes to the touch line in charge of a side in Everton that are desperate for some direction and a positive result.

Possible Everton Line Up: Pickford, Sidibé, Mina, Holgate, Digne, Davies, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Tosun

Possible Leicester Line Up: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Soyunchu, Chilwell, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Perez, Vardy