Top four contenders Everton and Leicester City will be aiming to strengthen their cause in midweek as they clash at Goodison Park.

Two of the surprise packages in the Premier League so far this season, just six points currently separate the Toffees and the Foxes so a win for either on Merseyside could be a real statement from either.

Team News

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti elected to name a strong lineup in the 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Sunday with the likes of James Rodriguez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison all included. They are once again set be named in the starting line-up. Jordan Pickford could be restored to the side having been sat on bench against the Owls

In positive injury news, Lucas Digne and Alex Iwobi are back in contention. However, midfielders Allan, Fabian Delph, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Niels Nkounkou all remain restricted to the sidelines. Abdoulaye Doucoure will also be a big miss, with the French midfielder ruled out through suspension. 

The Toffees will be buoyed by news from the Leicester camp, with Jamie Vardy remaining sidelined as he continues his recovery from a hernia operation that kept him out of the Foxes' 3-1 comeback victory against Brentford at the weekend. Ayoze Perez is likely to continue deputising in the frontline. 

Fellow long-term absentees Dennis Praet and Wes Morgan are also ruled out. 

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Predicted Line-Ups

Everton: Pickford; Godfrey, Keane, Mina, Holgate; Digne, Davies, Gomes, Richarlison, James; Calvert-Lewin.

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison; Under, Barnes, Perez.

Last Meeting

Everton earned a statement victory the last time the two sides met this season. Two of the early pace-setters in the top-flight, Everton struck first at the King Power Stadium, with Richarlison cutting in from the left and firing low past Schmeichel. 

Leicester's Achilles heal of the past season, corners, predictably hampered them once again after the break as Mason Holgate converted but only after two brilliant reaction saves from the Leicester goalkeeper. 

The Foxes' misery was then twice compounded late on, with a penalty decision being reversed and Perez's late strike being chalked off by VAR. 

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Ones to watch

Richarlison

Whilst having not quite produced his best form in front of goal this season, ironically not scoring since the 2-0 success at the King Power Stadium in December, the Brazilian forward is always a threat when it comes to playing against Leicester.

The former Watford man has scored four goals against the Foxes throughout his career - against no side as he netted more. It's only since moving to Goodison though that he has troubled the East-Midlanders. Richarlison has scored in four out of his last five Premier League appearances against Leicester for Everton, including each of his last three.

James Maddison

It would be fair to say that Maddison is certainly in the best form of his Leicester City stint, and possibly even his whole career. The 24-year-old has scored in his last four appearances in all competitions, the first time he has ever managed that.

He already has 16 goal contributions throughout 2020/21, just one fewer than his best personal season haul for the Foxes. It goes without saying then that he will be aiming to continue that electric form on Merseyside. 

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Pre-match thoughts

Ahead of the clash, Ancelotti has already suggested how crucial it could be for his team and their Champions League aspirations to earn victory. 

Talking in his pre-match press conference, the Italian said: "I think it is a really, really important game for us. To know what we want in the future, to fight for the top six, to fight for the top four. But also Newcastle...we will know where we will be in the future."

"I think it's [the Champions League] the best competition in the world. As I said when I arrived here, to take Everton into the Champions League is a fantastic motivation for me personally. It's a great desire,"​ he continued.​​

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has called on his Foxes' side to learn from the reverse at the hands of Everton earlier in the season but also praised the Toffees for their excellent showings so far. 

He said: “They’re [Everton] definitely a team that will challenge. They’ve had big investment in the team so they would be expecting to challenge. They have outstanding players and a world class manager.

"It’s the one disappointing game. We arrive in this game in a totally different moment. The energy is good, we’re playing how we want to. We conceded two poor goals from our perspective. Hopefully our performance level will be better on Wednesday.”

How to watch

Everton vs Leicester City is available to watch on BT Sport 2. Coverage begins at 8pm, with kick-off coming shortly after at 8:15pm. 

Alternatively, you can follow the match with VAVEL on the @LeicesterVAVEL Twitter account. 

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