Leicester vs Everton: Match preview | An early six-point win against relegation?

It may only be September, but Everton’s away game at Leicester already feels like a crucial match in the club’s season.

Sean Dyche’s side travel to the King Power Stadium without a point, reeling from a miserable penalty shootout defeat to Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The fans, already exhausted after years of poor performance, are close to collapsing. Another defeat here and Dyche would be under serious pressure.

There are many mitigating circumstances – years of underperformance before Dyche’s arrival, ongoing financial constraints and a long injury list. But Dyche is not entirely innocent and knows he is under pressure to produce a positive result this weekend.

Some fans are understandably calling for a change of manager (the fact that David Moyes is still without a club has not gone unnoticed), while others are wondering what the point is, given that there are other problems. If the takeover goes through in the next few months, the new regime may want its own man anyway, so we’re all in limbo.

The team is better than it seems, but the good moves we saw against Bournemouth and Aston Villa need to be repeated over the full 90+ minutes.

Seldom has the team needed a result as much as on Saturday.

The opponent

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Leicester have also endured a turbulent few years on and off the pitch. Financial constraints and PSR concerns led to them selling key players ahead of the 2022/23 season, resulting in a surprise relegation on the final day of the season – Everton staying in the league at their expense.

They recovered impressively at the first attempt and although they lost manager Enzo Maresca to Chelsea, they quickly brought in Steve Cooper, who had done a good job at Nottingham Forest.

In addition, the Foxes were able to avoid any PSR charges and potential points deductions from the Premier League for previous violations after their poorly drafted rules were exposed.

They are one of six clubs yet to win, although they have managed respectable draws against Tottenham and Crystal Palace, the latter after leading 2-0.

Previous encounter

Leicester 2-2 Everton, May 1, 2023

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

You could feel the tension in the air as the two teams scored the final goals in the final six-point relegation match in April 2023.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s early penalty was cancelled out by Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy – but James Maddison’s missed penalty just before half-time proved decisive and Alex Iwobi’s equaliser after the break went some way to keeping the Toffees in the league at the Foxes’ expense.

About the team

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Everton may be without more than 10 injured or sick players for Saturday’s game

James Harrison is the latest player to be sent home from training due to illness; James Garner is already out due to illness.

Dyche is hoping that Vitalii Mykolenko and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be fit in time, while James Tarkowski has returned to training after missing the Southampton game with an injury. Michael Keane has also been assessed for a foot injury sustained against the Saints.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are not yet available but will play for the U21s this week. Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja will still be a few weeks away from returning, while Idrissa Gueye will not be involved following the death of his father.

What they said

Everton coach Sean Dyche: “I’m talking about consistency within a performance, not just week after week. That’s something we haven’t achieved so far this season – that consistency to see a game through to the end.”

“We have reaffirmed [the players] the reasons why we had such a good record here last season, with goals conceded and close games

“[We’ve had injuries] sometimes in the preseason, sometimes not. It’s been a difficult run. This week we’ve been challenged like never before, especially because of the cup game the other night. That’s the reality, and that’s the reality of the players we had fit for that game.

“We’re hoping a few of them will come through and train tomorrow, so we’ll have to wait and see.

“It’s a rare reality, but it’s reality. I’ve never seen so many injured and sick people in such a short time. That’s just the way it is at the moment.”

Leicester boss Steve Cooper: “We are frustrated that we didn’t get more points. We felt like we could have gotten more in every game. That’s frustrating, but also motivating.”

“We’ve been focusing on ourselves and what we can do because that’s what we can control. It’s about continuing to follow our plan and strategy. We’re looking forward to the game and being home after a great week of training.”

Last word

This feels like a big game. Leicester are hungry for revenge for their relegation two years ago and perhaps looking forward to the chance to inflict more pain on Everton. Injuries, illness, loss of form and a lack of confidence are a miserable combination. But Everton will have to dig deep somehow to try and get a positive result.