2021-22 Premier League: Week 33 – Everton vs Leicester

Following two postponements, Everton finally welcome Leicester to Goodison Park in a rearranged Premier League clash.

Victory would see Everton stay 17th in the table but move six points clear of Burnley who occupy the last relegation spot, whereas Leicester will stay ninth with a win.

 

Team News

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Yerry Mina could return for Everton after recovering from a quad injury.

Donny van de Beek (thigh) could also feature but Nathan Patterson (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh) and Andros Townsend (knee) remain ruled out.

Leicester again could be without Boubakary Soumare as he continues to recover from a groin injury which has kept him sidelined since the international break last month.

Danny Ward, Ryan Bertrand, Wilfried Ndidi and Jamie Vardy (all knee) remain absent indefinitely.

 

Stat Attack

• Everton have claimed seven points from their last five league meetings against Leicester (W2, D1, L2).
• Leicester have won just one of their last five league visits to Goodison Park (W1, D1, L3).
• Everton have scored first in each of their last two home matches against Leicester (W1, D1).
• Each of Everton’s last four home matches have been settled by 1-0 results, with Frank Lampard’s Toffees having won two of those four games at Goodison Park (W2, L2).
• Leicester have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight matches across all competitions (W3, D2, L3), a first leg goalless draw against PSV in UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter-Finals.

 

Prediction

Despite having had the weekend off, Everton should be slightly relieved to enter this match without Burnley right down their necks especially after a positive home performance last time out against Manchester United, where they were simply clinical and aggressive yet organised across the pitch.

Leicester meanwhile will be glad to have found their goalscoring boots again in recent weeks but despite patient attacks, they just lacked that finishing touch at Newcastle on Sunday whilst their central defence were often ripped apart so I hope to see an improved all-round performance here.

Neither team though are particularly defensively strong so tactics and the first goal will be crucial because if Everton get it, I can see them getting the win otherwise a draw could be on the cards if Leicester score first and Everton can relentlessly attack their central defence.

Prediction: Everton 1-1 Leicester

Result: Everton 1-1 Leicester