epoch game Everton Vs Leicester City, Premier League: Preview, Players To Watch, H2H, Prediction

Everton defender James Tarkowski Everton defender James Tarkowski

James Tarkowski says he never once doubted Everton's resilience this season despite their strugglesepoch game, as they turn their attention to Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday. (More Sports News)

Sean Dyche left the club at 16th in the table, and though they remain there under David Moyes' leadership, they have won their last two matches in the competition to move six points clear of the drop zone.

Last time out, Everton edged to a 1-0 win over Brighton to celebrate Moyes' 700th Premier League game as a manager, and Tarkowski believes these types of results have been coming.

"I've never questioned it at all: the work; the effort; the togetherness; the resilience," Tarkowski told Evertontv.

"Maybe quality at times hasn't been good enough, but that resilience in our team has never left us. It was well on display today, and I'm proud of the team.

"It's tough losing a manager because we're at fault for that, so that's never nice for us. But football changes, a manager's come in, and you get that positive feeling about the place again, which happens with a new manager.

"And we've responded to it, so to win the way we have done – two tough games we've played there. To get two wins the way we have, is really, really pleasing. And hopefully, we get a few more down the line."

Back at Goodison on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/vh9jHoxbgb

— Everton (@Everton) January 28, 2025

Leicester, meanwhile, moved out of the bottom three after ending a seven-match winless run in the top-flight with a comeback win over Tottenham last Sunday.

It was their first Premier League win under Ruud van Nistelrooy since his first game in charge of the club, and Jamie Vardy, who scored the equaliser against Spurs, has urged the Foxes to buy into the new manager's ways.

"He has his own set way of playing, and it's all about buying into it. You buy into it, then you get it working. It's not been that long we've been together," Vardy said.

"You go from one system to another and then another. You have to stay focused on what the manager wants but to make sure we are all together, all on the same page. It doesn't matter as long as we are all backing each other."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Everton – Iliman Ndiaye

All five of Iliman Ndiaye's Premier League goals this season have been scored in the first half of games (his first coming in the reverse fixture against Leicester in September) with the Toffees avoiding defeat in all five matches when he has found the back of the net (W3 D2).

Meanwhile, only West Ham's Mohammed Kudus (57) has completed more dribbles than the Everton winger this term (54).

Leicester City – Jamie Vardy

Vardy has had a hand in eight goals across his 12 Premier League starts against Everton (seven goals, one assist).

Hannan Shahid was named the hero of the match for his spectacular double. Pakistan's five goals, which decisively thrashed China in Hulunbuir, have secured their place in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, where they join India. This sets up the potential for an India vs. Pakistan final, though the two teams will first face off in their fifth match on Saturday.

He could become just the fourth player in the competition's history to score in consecutive appearances while aged 38 or older, after Teddy Sheringham, Ryan Giggs and Graham Alexander.

The only players aged 37 or over with 10 goal involvements in a @premierleague season...Cristiano RonaldoRyan GiggsGary SpeedTeddy SheringhamOh, and now: pic.twitter.com/C4uJLMiOUQ

— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 28, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION: EVERTON WIN

hideous slots

Everton lost their last home league match against Leicester 2-0 in November 2022. However, they have never lost back-to-back league meetings with the Foxes at Goodison Park.

In fact, 17 of the 35 Premier League meetings between Leicester and Everton have been drawn, the highest percentage for any fixture to have been played 30+ times in the competition (49%).

Following wins against Tottenham and Brighton, Everton will be looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since April 2024.

Leicester beat Tottenham 2-1 in their last Premier League game. They have not won consecutive away matches in the top-flight since October/November 2022 (a run of three), which included a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

But Leicester have won just one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Everton (D4 L3), though it was their last away match against them in November 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Everton – 58.5%

Draw – 21.6%

Leicester City – 19.9%epoch game