Everton v Leicester preview: Foxes seek sixth straight Premier League win
Sunday 9 April 2017 15:08, UK
Leicester will be looking for a sixth successive Premier League win when they travel to Everton on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The Foxes have been revitalised since the appointment of Craig Shakespeare, who could equal the Premier League record for consecutive wins from the start of his managerial career in the competition.
The record is currently held by both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti with six wins from their first six games.
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Leicester also have the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid to look forward to next Wednesday.
"There hasn't been any Champions League talk," says Shakespeare. "It hasn't been banned, it's just all about keeping the run going against Everton.
"It'll be a tough game. Everton's home record is very good and it's a really competitive league this season."
Everton have seen their hopes of finishing in the top four dented by a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool and 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the last week.
The Toffees looked set to win at Old Trafford until a last-minute penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"A win would have been a great result, but now we have to move on quickly," said goalkeeper Joel Robles. "That is football. We need to be positive and look forward to the next game."
Team news
Ashley Williams is suspended for Everton after being sent off in the draw with Manchester United.
Ramiro Funes Mori (knee), Seamus Coleman (broken leg), James McCarthy (hamstring), Yannick Bolasie (knee) and Muhamed Besic (knee) are also out. Aaron Lennon (knock) and Morgan Schneiderlin (calf) are doubts.
Leicester will be without Wes Morgan (back) and Nampalys Mendy (ankle).
Opta stats
Everton beat Leicester 2-0 in December, but haven't done the league double over the Foxes since 1986/87.
Leicester haven't won back-to-back Premier League games away from home in nearly a year - a run of three wins in April 2016.
Everton have won their last six Premier League matches at Goodison Park, scoring 22 goals and keeping five clean sheets. They haven't won seven in a row since April 2014.
Romelu Lukaku has had a hand in 18 goals in 14 Premier League home appearances this season (13 goals, five assists). The Belgian striker has hit 10 goals in his last six league games at Goodison Park.
Jamie Vardy has scored twice and assisted another two goals in three previous Premier League games against the Toffees.
Leicester City's record in the months of April and May (combined) in the last three Premier League seasons is played 18, won 13, drawn 4, lost 1 - winning 43 points from a possible 54 (80%).
Paul Merson's prediction
Leicester have Atletico Madrid in midweek so they'll be focused on that because they're safe from relegation now. They should make changes at Goodison Park because they need to concentrate on the Champions League.
The top four is probably done for Everton now and I think Romelu Lukaku will go in the summer, but he'll score first here and I expect them to win and end Leicester's good run.
Paul predicts: 2-1 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Everton are Sky Bet's 3/4 favourites for the victory as Leicester are considered 18/5 outsiders, while the draw is priced at 11/4.
The Foxes' upturn in form under Craig Shakespeare has seen them drift out to 150/1 to face relegation, while Ronald Koeman's side have been similarly dismissed from the top-four race at odds of 200/1. Romelu Lukaku heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 with Jamie Vardy a 7/1 chance, while the strike duo are 5/1 to both find the net.
Lukaku and Vardy are both among the Elite Player for Super Sunday's Fantasy Six-a-Side clash, with £5,000 up for grabs for the highest scoring team. Pick your side here.
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