The only way this festive season will be a jolly for Evertonians is if the Toffees win away versus Leicester on Boxing Day.
And here’s the three main reasons Ronald Koeman’s side will ensure it’s a merry festive season for all Toffee supporters.
3. It’s time for a win away from Goodison
An Everton away win, if you solely focus on the stats, on Boxing Day looks doubtful.
Everton haven’t won an away game in over three months. The last time they won away from Goodison was on Sept. 12, when they pounded Sunderland 3-0.
Things started well for Everton after winning their first two away games of the season. They have only one lonely draw to show from the last six away fixtures. That’s one point from a possible 18, one of the worst records in the Premier League.
The Toffees have been outscored 13-4 in that six-game span.
Leicester have lost only one match so far this season at King Power Stadium, which came against West Brom in early November. Fifteen of their 17 points this season have come at home, a startling 88 percent of their season’s total.
The Foxes score goals in bunches at home, but are facing a much tougher test in an Everton team that has only conceded more than a single goal in one of their last six matches.
Let’s forget about the stats for a moment and go with gut instinct. Everton is overdue for a win away from Goodison and Leicester is due another home loss.
It’s bound to happen on Monday, as Everton are unbeaten in their last four Boxing Day matches.
It’s time for a win against the Foxes
The Toffees historically, losing only two of their last 13, fare very well against defending champions. It’s a record that includes six wins and five draws.
The Toffees, however, haven’t performed well against the Foxes in recent encounters.
Leicester did the double over Everton last season on their way to the title, for the first time since 1985-86. The Foxes are unbeaten, taking 9 of 15 points from Everton, in their last five matches. However, they are Everton’s only defeats to the Foxes in the last 13 league games (W2, D9).
Leicester have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 10 matches, the second longest run without a Premier League clean sheet. Only Hull, 15 games, have gone longer.
You know it’s going to be an extremely tight contest when these two teams meet. In their last 20 head-to-head matches, there have been 13 draws.
Ranieri’s suspension woes
While he hasn’t exactly been prolific this season, Jamie Vardy is still an integral player for the Foxes. He scored his first ever Premier League hat trick against Manchester City in their last home game, but will sit out the next three matches due to his red card against Stoke.
In addition, both Robert Huth and Christina Fuchs are both out due to one-game suspensions.
Huth might just be the biggest exclusion of them all, the center back pivotal to Leicester’s championship-winning campaign. He’s the glue that holds the Foxes together. Romelu Lukaku, who has scored six of Everton’s nine away goals, will be extremely happy with this late Christmas present.
Danny Drinkwater is back in training but is expected to narrowly miss out.
Next: Ronald Koeman's pre-match Leicester press conference
While James McCarthy and Maarten Stekelenburg will both be absent due to their Merseyside Derby injuries, Everton have the players to step. Gareth Barry should start for McCarthy, while Joel Robles will come in for Stekelenburg. Robles has a lot to prove and won’t shy away from the enormous forthcoming challenge.
Everton, against the pundits’ sentiment and bookmakers’ predictions, will win their first away from Goodison since September.