Everton recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season after last weekend’s victory on the road at Brighton. The narrow but determined 1-0 win sees David Moyes’ side nearer 11th than 18th and 6 points ahead of Leicester, who the Toffees face this weekend.
On the pitch life under David Moyes has certainly felt a lot brighter. Many fans re-energised by a man who knows the club and seems to be rolling back the years with the identity and ideas he is imprinting on the current crop of players. Sadly, it is not all good news for the blues. Everton head into a crucial home tie on Saturday without Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala. With the club confirming that the latter, on loan from Lyon, is out for the remainder of the season following an ACL injury against Brighton.
The focus since Moyes returned has been on the open Transfer Window. Looking to build on what he already has. The new owners have stated there is money available and the Premier League confirming all sides have avoided PSR breaches this season. So why then are we yet to see new faces? And why, with time running out, is it taking so long? Nerves and frustration are building in pockets of the fan base. With Beto as the only recognised senior striker currently fit, Moyes will have to work his magic if the window closes without new additions. It won’t be unfamiliar territory for Moyes. A cup run in 2008/09 saw his side make it to the final with Cahill and Fellani up top. Could we see something similar this weekend at home to Leicester?
If You Know Your History… Everton v Leicester Through the Years
The two sides met earlier this season at The King Power Stadium where an Iliman Ndiaye goal opened the scoring and looked to earn Sean Dyche’s Everton a rare win on the road. In a game that the Toffees looked to control for large spells, we were left frustrated following a somewhat inevitable equaliser from the young Stephy Mavididi. The two struggling sides played out a 1-1 draw.
Both sides have had a change in the dugout since that game. Everton have found 2 wins in 3 matches under returning boss David Moyes. Leicester have also had 2 wins under their new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was appointed back in December. The Foxes won against West Ham in the Dutchman’s first game in charge and took 3 points from a struggling Tottenham last weekend.
The stats in previous meetings are fairly even. Everton have bested Leicester 45 times. Leicester have triumphed over the Toffees on 39 occasions. The sides have shared the spoils 36 times.
Everton have recorded some of their highest scoring games against The Foxes. A 7-1 win in 1927 and a 9-2 win in 1931 being just two examples. In recent years, the games have been much tighter. You have to go back to 2017 for the last time either side scored over 2 goals. Everton have only won once in their last 6 attempts against the former Premier League champions, with Leicester winning 2-0 at Goodison Park last season.
David Moyes faced Leicester 3 times during his first spell as Everton boss. 2 draws and a win in the first year of his 11 year tenure, with Leicester being outside of the Premier League for the majority of that time. Meaning the Scot has an undefeated record to protect this weekend.
Team News
Orel Mangala is set to return to France for surgery, following a season ending ACL injury. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury is not as bad as first feared, but the striker will be out for 8-weeks. Dwight McNeil has had a minor surgery to resolve his injury issue and remains out of the squad. Youssef Chermitti is back on the grass but is still 3-4 weeks away from selection. Tim Iroegbunam could feature in the squad this weekend, after returning to first team training earlier this week.
Leicester are without Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu, who are both out with long term injuries. Ndidi, Hermansen and Souttar could feature for the Foxes this weekend.
What the Manager Says
Moyes on Mangala’s Injury – “I believe Mangala will go back. He’ll be operated on in France, as far as I know. It means we still need to bring in some players.
Moyes on the Transfer Window – It’s so difficult to get the players in that we want. We are really out there trying to bring players in. We are still hampered by PSR. We don’t want to get ourselves in positions that we’ve been in before [with points deductions]. I’ve been really surprised at how it [PSR] is restricting the football club. It’s hindering us. I know that I have to find a way to bring players in that will hopefully contribute to the side in some way. This market in general has been a bad market, a slow market. My aim is to bring something else in. I hope it will have an impact on the squad.
Everton Key Player
Iliman Ndiaye – I do try and mix it up when it comes to picking our one to watch but Ndiaye is making it very hard to choose anyone other than him at present. We knew there was a player there all season. A shining light even when playing Dyche-ball, the senegalese forward has been confident, energetic and reliable throughout this campaign. His penalty against Brighton the difference between the two sides. However, his work off the ball and driving play up the pitch once again shone through. The word of the weekend heading into the game against Leciester is ‘confidence’. Both sides will feel a degree of it after recent results. It therefore will fall to players like Ndiaye to really shine through, level-up and drive the toffees to another positive result. With the increasing injury list, it cannot be stressed how critical this man is. Everton’s leading goalscorer is a must-start and it is even more important he gets through each game unscathed.
One to Watch for Brighton:
Jamie Vardy – Last weekend saw Iliman Ndiaye booked for celebrating like a seagull against Brigton. A page right out of The Jamie Vardy Book of Sh*thousery. Coincidentally, the veteran striker was not booked for pointing at the Premier League badge after scoring against Tottenham the next day. Whilst debating the need for consistency amongst Premier League referees is an article for another day, what is a present topic of discussion is how critical Vardy has been to the limited successes Leicester have seen this season. The top goalscorer under van Nistelrooy, the 38-year old still offers a lot to his side. Clinical under pressure, Vardy has played at every level and seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at Leicester. This weekend he will be the one to keep an eye on. The higher line of Everton might just give the former England international a chance or two.
Final Thoughts
Everton are back at home and against a beatable Leicester side. However, the pressure of securing 3 wins in a row and being 9 points clear of the Foxes come 5pm on Saturday cannot be overlooked. On recent form, you’d anticipate a positive result for Everton, who have approached games in a more positive and professional manner under David Moyes. The confidence has grown over the last 3 games. The goals have come and the game against Brighton showed we could still dig in and defend resolutely. Maybe any looming doubts of another win are cast more by what we’ve had to watch over the last 2-years. Maybe it sometimes still feels too good to be true that Everton can turn up, attack, score and see out a result. Despite injuries and transfer uncertainties, I believe a re-energised fan base and an expectant Goodison will carry the side to another victory this weekend.
Prediction
2-0. I’m choosing to believe Leicester’s result against Spurs was more of a blip than ours was. I think that even with injuries the current positivity amongst fans and players alike will get us over the line. Ndiaye is in fine form, I’d back him to find the net again. I’ll also put my neck on the line and say Beto gets on the scoresheet.
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