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Everton pass Leicester test

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Anthony Gordon of Everton and James Justin of Leicester City battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Leicester City at Goodison Park on July 01, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Anthony Gordon of Everton and James Justin of Leicester City battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Leicester City at Goodison Park on July 01, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Everton secured a fine 2-1 win over Leicester City last night at Goodison Park as the Blues continued their push up the Premier League table and for European football next season.

I’m beginning to believe that this unlikely hope of Everton securing European football might just be possible after last night’s deserved victory over the Foxes.

Leicester have had a good season but have struggled recently. However, this game still represented a real test as to whether the Blues could defeat a talented and well drilled side with plenty to play for in this truncated season.

We also continued to see the evolution of how Carlo Ancelotti wants his side to play. Once again the Toffees relinquished possession to maintain their shape defensively and to secure the points, especially when Leicester pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half.

Interestingly Ancelotti decided to pick youngster Anthony Gordon again, who seems to be a player that the manager wants to play when the Blues are at home to help build his confidence. Might he be the long-term answer on the left hand side?

Gordon looked lively straight away and he produced a superb cross for Richarlison’s tenth minute opener. There is plenty in the teenagers game that gives hope that he could be a fine player.

The Brazilians goal was the culmination of an excellent start by the home side. Unlike against Norwich, Everton were on top early on and they were setting the pace and grabbed two quick goals as their reward for this dominance.

After Richarlison had tucked in Gordon’s cross, the Toffees were awarded a penalty as the ball hit Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

Miraculously after a long and convoluted VAR review, Everton were actually awarded a penalty on review! Yes it’s true it happened!

Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up and slotted the spot kick and suddenly the Blues were two goals ahead and were cruising.

Everton continued to be on top for the rest of the first half as Leicester were struggling to get into the game and looked lacklustre and struggling for any rhythm in their play. However, Everton didn’t get a third goal, which might have sealed it.

After halftime, Leicester brought on attacking midfielder James Maddison, who had been a doubt before the game. He proved a key player who ignited a much better second half from the Foxes.

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The midlands team were controlling the ball and putting Everton under a lot of pressure as they searched for a way back into the match.

The Blues defended well in general and kept Leicester at bay, but inevitably given their quality and the amount of pressure they created there were a few good chances. Eventually they got a bizarre piece of luck when substitute Kelechi Iheanacho ‘headed’ in Mason Holgate’s clearance.

In truth. Iheanacho didn’t know much about the goal of course as it came off his face and ricocheted into the net for a typically bad piece of luck.

Leicester created a few more opportunities and Jamie Vardy, who was well policed in general by Everton’s defenders, should probably have scored. He didn’t, and the Toffees held on for three more vital points. The only fly in the ointment was Richarlison’s injury, hopefully he won’t be out for long.

It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means and it was worrying to see the Blues performance fall away as much as it did in the second half, but Everton passed the test beating a good team and overall deservedly so.