Everton Vs Leicester

Everton and Leicester City are set to face off at Goodison Park this Saturday in a Premier League clash that comes just one week after both teams secured crucial away victories. Initially, before the firing of Sean Dyche earlier this month, this fixture was being billed as a key encounter in the battle against relegation. However, with Everton's recent resurgence, they have managed to escape the relegation zone, leaving Leicester in a precarious position just one place below them as the weekend approaches.

Many now view the relegation battle as a contest between three clubs fighting for the two remaining spots alongside Southampton, following Everton’s revival under the leadership of David Moyes, who returned to the club earlier this season. Under Moyes, Everton managed to pull themselves clear of the drop zone with a significant 1-0 victory away at Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty secured the three points, marking a remarkable achievement for Moyes, as his team recorded as many away wins in this single match as Sean Dyche did during his entire 21-match tenure at the club. 

This victory was a historic first for Everton in the Premier League, as they triumphed despite registering only one shot on target throughout the game, which came from the penalty spot. Moyes was quick to acknowledge that while the performance wasn’t ideal, his team showed a disciplined defensive effort to secure the result. It was also the first time Everton had won consecutive matches since April, following a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur the previous week. Additionally, this victory marked their first back-to-back league goals since October, further underscoring their recent improvement.

As a result of these back-to-back victories, Everton now find themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone. They are equally positioned between Leicester City, just one spot below them, and Manchester United in 12th place. A win in this upcoming match could see Everton extend their cushion from the bottom three to a remarkable ten points, provided other results go in their favor, such as Ipswich Town and Wolves failing to gain points. However, the history of Leicester’s previous visits to Goodison Park is not entirely favorable to Everton. The last time the two sides met at this venue, Leicester triumphed 2-0, although this victory ultimately didn’t help the Foxes avoid relegation during the 2022-2023 season. Despite that, Leicester now has the opportunity to achieve a historic feat of winning back-to-back league matches at Goodison Park for the first time ever.

In general, Leicester has had a difficult time against Everton, with that victory in November 2022 representing their only win in the last eight meetings between the two teams. It is worth noting that Leicester's win in that fixture was part of the last time they managed to secure consecutive wins in the Premier League, and that is a streak they will be hoping to repeat, especially after their strong performance against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. That 2-1 win over Spurs ended a troubling run of seven consecutive Premier League defeats, and although manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has only been in charge for just over two months, the pressure was mounting on him to get results. Fortunately for the Dutch manager, other clubs in the relegation zone have struggled to gain points, and the win against Spurs allowed Leicester to escape the drop zone, putting them one point above Ipswich and Wolves.

With another victory on the road, Leicester would not only increase their gap over the bottom three but also bring Everton back into the mix for a relegation battle. However, Leicester’s away form has been less than inspiring this season, with the win against Spurs being their first away point since early November when they managed a draw at Ipswich. It’s worth noting that only bottom-placed Southampton have picked up fewer points away from home this season, which has made it difficult for Leicester to maintain consistent form on the road.

Given the context of this fixture, both teams will be highly motivated as they continue their fight for Premier League survival. Everton, buoyed by their recent revival under Moyes, will be eager to extend their points gap over the relegation zone. At the same time, Leicester, despite their struggles on the road, will be keen to build on their recent victory and make a statement that they can be a force to reckon with, especially after a difficult start to the season. For both sides, this match is more than just about securing three points—it’s about positioning themselves for the remainder of the season and making sure they have a fighting chance to avoid relegation.