16th placed Everton will host 17th placed Leicester at Goodison Park on Saturday, with both teams surprisingly optimistic heading into this crucial relegation battle.
Everton, under the guidance of David Moyes, have managed to secure two consecutive wins, distancing themselves from the relegation zone. On the other hand, Leicester snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory against Tottenham last Sunday.
Team news
Everton will be missing Dominic Calvert-Lewin due to a hamstring injury sustained in their recent 1-0 win over Brighton. Additionally, Armando Broja is also sidelined, likely paving the way for Beto to lead the attacking line. In midfield, Orel Mangala's season-ending injury could see Abdoulaye Doucoure dropping back alongside Idrissa Gueye.
Leicester, on the other hand, continue with a largely unchanged squad, although Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, and Abdul Fatawau remain unavailable.
The stats
Everton will be aiming to secure three consecutive victories for the first time since April.
With 12 games in which they have failed to score, Everton tops the list in the Premier League. However, they also boast one of the best defensive records, with eight clean sheets, only surpassed by Liverpool and Forest.
Leicester's defensive struggles continue, having not kept a clean sheet in their last 18 games across all competitions. In their 11 league away matches, they have conceded goals in each, with nine of those seeing them concede two or more goals.
Out of the 35 Premier League meetings between Everton and Leicester, 17 have ended in draws.
Prediction
The upcoming clash between Everton and Leicester holds immense significance in the Premier League relegation battle. Despite facing setbacks due to injuries to Orel Mangala and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton can overcome these challenges.
Under David Moyes' guidance, Everton have shown better organization, which could pose problems for a leaky Leicester defense that struggles to keep clean sheets.
Leicester, under Ruud van Nistelrooy, showcased resilience in their recent comeback win against Tottenham, but they have been consistently conceding goals. Everton, being more solid defensively, are poised to capitalize on this and secure a victory.
Although Everton are favored to win, Leicester's fighting spirit cannot be underestimated. However, Everton's defensive strength and current form may tip the scales in their favor.