Everton – Leicester

Everton will take on the current surprising Premier League leaders Leicester City in a very interesting 17th round clash at Goodison Park.

The hosts have not lost in the previous 8 matches in all competitions, but things are not looking as good as this stat might suggest. Everton won just 3 times in this 8 matches and is coming after three consecutive Premier League draws, currently sitting on the 10th place. Roberto Martinez’s side is not losing easily, but they aren’t exactly able to win games either. It’s also worth noting that Everton did not play against any real Top 8 contender since October, when they lost to Arsenal.

Many people were saying that Leicester’s good run is only due to an easy schedule to start the season, but the Foxes proved the doubters wrong, drawing against Man United and beating Chelsea in the last three rounds – and getting Mourinho sacked in the process. With Mahrez and Vardy in absolute killer goalscoring form and with 4 wins in the last 5 matches, Leicester has every reason to feel confident that the dream run will continue. They are playing good, confident football both at home and on the road, lost only once all season (vs Arsenal) and morale is at an all time high.

Bet on Everton vs. Leicester City with the best Premier League odds at 1xBet.com.

Team news & lineups:

Everton will have to do without Jagielka, Oviedo, Hibbert, Pienaar, Browning and possibly McCarthy – most being long term injuries. Huth, Schlupp and James won’t be in Leicester’s lineup. Drinkwater is doubtful.

Everton: Howard – Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines – Cleverley, Barry – Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone – Lukaku

Leicester City: Schmeichel – Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, Fuchs – Mahrez, King, Kante, Albrighton – Ulloa, Vardy

One of the reasons Leicester is so successful is the fact that, while they are the real deal, teams don’t exactly give them the respect they deserve. Most clubs play open football against them, hoping to nail 3 points and Leicester has been able to speculate this. Everton is surely not a team to play defensive football against them, particularly at home, so the Foxes will try to exploit this again.

Everton should have really gotten a couple more wins with an easy schedule in November, but they didn’t play that great. The hosts are finding it very difficult to win games and it seems hard to believe that Leicester will suffer its second defeat of the season at the hands of this club.

Everton could not defeat a weaker Leicester City side last season, when both meetings ended in 2-2 draws. My tip is Leicester +0,5 handicap and I feel the odds are really good for this bet. Everton is priced at about 2.05 to win, which I think is very low – I would have rated the hosts somewhere towards 2.40 – 2.50. Prediction: Everton – Leicester 2-2.

Pick: Leicester +0,5
Odds: 1.88 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 7.92
Event date: 19 December