Prediction: Leicester vs Everton

Verdict: Leicester win

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Unibet

In what could be a season-defining showdown from the foot of the Premier League table, Leicester will welcome Everton to the King Power on Monday night.

Leicester

Starting with the hosts, while Leicester might have mounted a dramatic late comeback away at Elland Road last time out, the Foxes still find themselves in the midst of a real Premier League nightmare. Eventually having to settle for a 1-1 draw against fellow relegation scrappers Leeds, new boss Dean Smith has a real job on his hands over the final few weeks. While the ex-Aston Villa boss might have seen his squad claim a crucial 2-1 victory against Wolves on April 22nd, that is remarkably the only win that Leicester have collected from their last 12 appearances across all competitions. With that run stemming all the way back to February 11th, the former Premier League champions will know that they face a must-win showdown on Monday night. Landing a 2-0 victory when they traveled to Goodison Park for their reverse top-flight meeting six months ago, fans around the King Power will be desperate for a repeat display here.

Team News

In what will be a real blow for Smith’s side here, ex-Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho will miss out with a groin injury. However, coming off the bench away at Elland Road and bagging just his second Premier League strike of the season in Leicester’s 1-1 draw, Jamie Vardy should be in line for a full recall on Monday night.

The Foxes will once again be unable to call upon the likes of Ryan Bertrand, James Justin, Ricardo Pereira and Jannik Vestergaard here.

Everton

As for the visitors, putting in another nightmare display at Goodison Park earlier in the week, it is no secret that Everton are tipped as a standout relegation pick this season. Eventually blown away on home soil as they suffered a 4-1 drumming at home against top-four contenders Newcastle, there is already a huge amount of pressure on Sean Dyche’s shoulders. Really struggling to find any kind of stability since appointing the former Burnley boss, Monday’s guests have now failed to win any of their last six Premier League appearances. With their extended struggle highlighted by a 3-1 loss at home against Fulham on April 15th, the Toffees have also gained a reputation for their rather glaring issues in the road. In fact, on what has been a remarkable rut, Everton have claimed just a single victory away from Goodison Park all season. Suffering that 2-0 loss when they welcomed Leicester to Merseyside back in November, Dyche will know that a similar result could be the final nail in the Blues’ coffin.

Team News

Serving a one-match suspension and missing Monday’s 4-1 drumming at home against Newcastle, Mason Holgate will return to Dyche’s squad at the King Power. Likewise, Everton remain hopeful that Ireland international Seamus Coleman should be able to overcome a recent hamstring injury on Monday night.

However, still dealing with respective long-term injury issues, the Toffees will travel to Leicester without the duo of Ruben Vinagre and Andros Townsend.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met for their reverse Premier League meeting on November 5th, Leicester picked up a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.
• However, that is the only win that Leicester have collected against Monday’s guests from their previous six attempts.
• Everton have remarkably claimed just a single Premier League victory away from Goodison Park so far this season.
• Leicester’s 2-1 victory against Wolves on April 22nd is the only win that they have collected from their last 12 appearances.
• Monday’s opponents have seen each of their last eight straight showdowns at the King Power finish with over 1.5 goals.

Conclusion

Mounting a late comeback away at Elland Road last time out as they snatched a 1-1 draw against their fellow relegation rivals, Leicester will know that they have been handed a golden chance on Monday night. Last seen at the King Power claiming an essential 2-1 win against Wolves, the Foxes should also be excited by their most recent meeting against Everton. Claiming a deserved 2-0 win when they traveled to Goodison Park for their reverse Premier League meeting on November 5th, Smith’s new squad will be calling on a repeat display here. In what could be a season-defining battle at the foot of the table, we are expecting a home victory on Monday night.

Verdict: Leicester win 

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Unibet