Leicester v Everton preview: Six-pointer in relegation battle
Despite the positive nature of that performance, results elsewhere going against them meant they finished the last round still rooted inside the relegation zone, one point from safety but ahead of their opponents here, Everton.
That makes this the epitome of a ‘six-pointer’, but for fans of the Foxes it’s tough to predict which way it’ll go. Under new boss Dean Smith they’ve produced a mixed bag of results (W1, D1, L1), but encouragingly the one win in that run did come here at home against Wolves.
Following that up with another success would hand them consecutive PL victories at King Power for the first time since May last year, a little added incentive in their quest for survival.
While Everton are only a point worse off than their hosts, it’s fair to say their prospects of survival are looking much bleaker.
A raucous players’ coach welcome - a staple of their home games in last season’s relegation run-in - on Thursday night wasn’t enough to lay the foundations for an important positive result as they went down 4-1 to Newcastle United.
The Toffees are now without a win since March 11th (D3, L3), with no fewer than 17 PL sides ahead of the round having won at least once in the time since.
Isolating exclusively away games makes even grimmer reading for Everton fans, who haven’t seen their side win on the road since the very start of October.
The fact they’ve drawn three of their last four road outings perhaps offers a crumb of comfort, and they have enjoyed success at this venue recently, winning each of their last two visits to Leicester which means they could register a much-needed third successive win here for the first time in their history.
Players to watch: After his strike in midweek, the aforementioned Vardy will hope to add to his six career strikes against Everton, four of which came in home games.
Including Thursday’s strike direct from a corner, Dwight McNeil has scored three of Everton’s last six goals.
Hot stat: Everton have failed to score in four of their last five away games played on a Monday (D1, L4).
