After European football returning this week for Everton it is now time to focus on our next league game at home to relegation strugglers Leicester on Sunday afternoon. The last time the 2 sides met was way back on the first day of the season when Leicester hosted their first Premier League game for over 10 years. That game back in August finished 2-2 as McGeady and Naismithmeant that Everton would go into the final 10 minutes with a 2-1 lead. However, an 86th minute equaliser from Leandro Ulloa meant that honours were even at the King Power stadium. The last time Leicester visited Goodison was back in December 2003 when the toffees triumphed by 3 goals to 2. Lee Carsley, Tomasz Radzinski and Wayne Rooney scored the goals for Everton that day. It is a fixture that hasn’t been short of entertainment in recent meetings with 11 goals in the last 3 games as well as a sending off and 2 late equalisers from Leicester in them 3 games.
Leicester have lost their last 4 league games and there was more disappointment for the foxes last weekend when they were knocked out of the FA Cup after suffering a 2-1 loss away to Aston Villa. Their last Premier League game was a 2-1 loss away to Arsenal. Goals from Koscielny and Walcott meant that Leicester were 2-0 down at half time and despite Kramaric getting one back with half an hour to go it wasn’t enough and Leicester fell to their 16th Premier League of the season. This means they sit rock bottom of the table on 17 points, 4 behind Burnley in 19th and 5 off safety. Everton meanwhile are coming into the game off a very pleasing 4-1 away in Europe. In the 4-1 win at BSC Young Boys, Romelu Lukaku became Everton’s first hat trick scorer since Louis Saha way back in 2010 when he scored 4 in a 5-3 win over Blackpool. It was a game in which both teams were poor defensively but Everton dominated the territory and were ruthless in attack. It was one of our best attacking displays of the season but Leicester will be a very different challenge. Everton’s last Premier League game was away at Chelsea. Despite a solid defensive performance the 10 man Everton side couldn’t quite hold on and a long distance last minute shot from Willian was deflected behind the reach of Tim Howard and Chelsea won the game 1-0. Despite only having 2 wins in this time, Everton have now only lost one of their last 8 games in all competitions and are now conceding far less goals than earlier on in the season.
After a couple of games on the sidelines, Leighton Baines is to return to the squad and is in contention to start the game on Sunday afternoon. Bryan Oviedo, who has played at left back during Baines’ absence will face a late fitness test ahead of the game after suffering a minor hamstring injury on Thursday. Aaron Lennon is also back in contention after being cup tied for the Europa League match. Arouna Kone is also available after not being risked on the artificial pitch due to a knee injury he has suffered in the past. Gareth Barry is suspended following his red card against Chelsea last week. Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman remain out as long term injuries but are edging nearer to fitness having played for the Under 21’s team recently. As for Leicester, Chris Wood is a doubt as he continues to fight for fitness after suffering an ankle injury. Kasper Schmeichel and Zoumana Bakayogo are both out with long term injuries. New signing Robert Huth is available after being cup tied for their game against Aston Villa last weekend.
Source: evertonfc.com
Roberto Martinez has played Tim Howard in both of our games since his return from injury and seems to be completely dismissing how well Joel played in the absence of Howard. Tim Howard has had a poor season by his high standards and when Joel Robles has needed to step up he has done just that. Joel kept 3 consecutive in the games leading up to Howards return and has statistically done better than Howard this season – although it has been in far less games. When Howard started against Chelsea there was a sense of disappointment among Evertonians and this was made worse when he started yet again against Young Boys with many thinking Joel could be used in the cup instead. Martinez could begin to rotate between keepers but I personally think he will favour Howard again on Sunday. As for the defensive line I expect to the usual of Coleman, Stones, Jagielka and whatever left back our injuries and late fitness tests will allow us to play. Baines will be the favoured option of course if Martinez decides he is fit enough but if not Garbutt could start who has played well whenever he has been needed this season. With Barry out through suspension it looks likely we will finally see a centre midfield pairing of McCarthy and Besic which many of us have been wanting to see for weeks now. After an impressive display in Switzerland, Ross Barkley could’ve have earned himself a place in the line up for Sunday and could be a crucial part. I think Naismith could start on the bench after showing signs of tiredness in the game on Thursday. If so this means we will play 2 wingers with them likely to be Mirallas and Lennon who was cup tied on Thursday. Atsu could start also though after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in which he was awarded the player of the tournament to go with his goal of the tournament award. Following his hat trick on Thursday night Romelu Lukaku looks almost certain to keep his place in the starting 11 and if we play to his strengths he could do some real damage to Leicester.
It is a game in which a win is crucial for both teams. Leicester need to win in order to kick start their fight for survival whilst Everton need to carry momentum through from Thursday and put any talk of relegation in the past. With Stoke and Arsenal away after this this is one that looks like a must win for the toffees.
Score Predicton: 3-1 Everton
Predicted line up (4-2-3-1): Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley, Lennon, Mirallas, Lukaku.
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