April 9, 2017
Everton 4-2 Leicester City
Everton: Joel, Holgate, Pennington, Jagielka, Baines, Gueye, Schneiderlin (Barry 73), Davies, Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas
Subs not Used: Valencia, Steklenburg, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Kenny, Williams
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Amartey, Benalouane, Huth, Chilwell, Albrighton, (Ulloa 78), King, Drinkwater, Gray (Musa 61), Slimani, Vardy (Mahrez 61)
Subs not Used: Kapustka, Simpson, Zieler, Wasilewski
The last time we met the foxes, the Toffees found themselves in seventh, still eyeing the top four, (a far cry from today just under a year later.) While Leicester found themselves mid table, 8 points safe of the drop. The first half started in lightning fast fashion, as Tom Davies finished from in close to goal inside the first minute, putting the Toffees up 1-0. However Leicester found lightning in a bottle, in the next 10 minutes as Slimani put one home and then Marc Albrighton scored a wonderful free kick from the left hand side, and the score was 2-1. However, in a rapid paced affair, Lukaku equalized with a close-range header to level the score at 2-2. Just when the half seemed to be over, Jags headed home a corner that nestled itself into the bottom corner, ending a whirlwind of a half 3-2 in favor of the blues.
The second half started rather groggily, as both teams seemed a tad hungover from what was an absolutely frantic first half of football. However, fortune broke for Everton as Mirallas’ corner fell onto Lukaku’s head and he finished from close range in the 58th minute. Twice in the game the foxes’ defending on set pieces crippled them, and at 4-2 Everton sat comfortably. Sub Leonardo Ulloa made a big impact for Leicester, having one header saved off the line by Gueye, and another supremely saved by Joel. It would make for a nervy ending but one that Everton would see out at a final score of 4-2, keeping slim hopes of top 4 alive.
Wednesday night sees an Everton squad winless in their last 6 games, face a Leicester City squad who sit 6 points above them in the table, in a critical tie for Everton as relegation fodder like Swansea and West Brom continue to win and amass points. Fans are disillusioned now more than ever, as the board refuses to sign a left-back, a crucial piece that is sorely needed in an injury depleted goal leaking defense. With Luke Garbutt and Seamus Coleman making their first team debuts this season, and Tosun and Walcott seemingly getting more training and time to gel with the team, Everton should be loaded and raring to go on a Wednesday at Goodison. Goals seem to be a miracle, and there might be a few needed, but look for Everton to scrape and claw their way to a win that is so desperately needed, putting the blues only 3 points off the foxes in the table.
Prediction; Everton 3-2 Leicester City
Up the Toffees!!!!!!!!
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