Leicester City vs Everton
Premier League
King Power Stadium
Saturday August 16th 3pm
At long last, proper footy is back! And we start it with a trip to a ground where we havent played for 10 years! Leicester are back in the Prem after a decade away after winning the Championship last season, and it will be interesting to see how they do. Im never ever a fan of playing promoted sides away early on though, plus the fact we just ALWAYS draw with Leicester, a tough game for us to start with.
Team News
Seamus Coleman is our biggest doubt after injuring his hamstring against Tranmere. He's not far off apparently but I doubt we would be silly enough to risk him. Kevin Mirallas and new signings Christian Atsu and Romelu Lukaku will be assessed, as none of them have played much in pre season after all playing at the World Cup. All are fit, just lacking in match fitness so wouldnt be surprised to see all three start on the bench. A rumour going around that Ross Barkley could be out for 6 weeks, so hopefully at least one or two of those three could make it, or we will have a severe lack of creativity. Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone are also unfit after recovering from long term injuries last season.
For Leicester, Anthony Knockaert and Marc Albrighton should be available after knocks picked up in pre season, but Jamie Vardy is likely to be out, while Matt Upson definitely is. Record signing Leonardo Ulloa will likely make his top flight debut up front.
Howard
Stones-Jagielka-Distin-Baines
Besic-McCarthy
McGeady-Osman-Atsu
Naismith
Ones to Watch
Wes Morgan, centre back, captain. First shot at the top flight after so long as a good Championship defender.
Andy King, long serving goalscoring midfielder.
Anthony Knockaert, winger. Unpredictable, but capable of absolute magic. YouTube his goal at Huddersfield.
Marc Albrighton, midfielder. Once highly regarded at Villa before fading away, he gets another chance.
Leo Ulloa. Striker, club record signing from Brighton. Him making the step up will be pretty crucial for Leicester this season.
The Ex Factor
Currently none of either squad is coming up against a former club. The most notable ex players of both clubs have to be Gary Lineker and Tony Cottee, while in more recent seasons, Yakubu and James Vaughan have had loan spells with Leicester from us, while we also sold them Jermaine Beckford.
The Stadium
King Power Stadium, home since 2002.
Capacity: 32,500
Record Attendance: 32,188 vs Real Madrid (Friendly, July 2011)
Visits: 1 (Leicester City 0-2 Wigan Athletic, Championship, April 2005)
Previous Meetings
(Premier League, March 20th 2004)
Leicester City 1-1 Everton
(Bent 90: Rooney 75)
Ferguson sent off 41
(Premier League, November 24th 2001)
Leicester City 0-0 Everton
(Premier League, September 24th 2000)
Leicester City 1-1 Everton
(Akinbiyi 23: Unsworth 52)
(Premier League, April 8th 2000)
Leicester City 1-1 Everton
(Taggart 8: Hutchison 27)
(Premier League, August 22nd 1998)
Leicester 2-0 Everton
(Cottee 11, Izzett 38)
Last Time
Leicester City 1-1 Everton (Bent 90: Rooney 75) Ferguson sent off 41 Premier League, March 20th 2004
A dark day for the club all over on and off the pitch. It started off in the worst circumstances possible when an Everton fan was killed walking to the ground after being hit by flying debris in freak high winds, so the game was always going to be secondary after that. A relegation six pointer with both of us just outside the drop zone, and us with just on away win all season. It didnt look like improving when Ferguson got sent off for two yellow cards late in the first half...only to then make it worse by throttling Stefan Freund (or better, depending on your opinion of Freund...). But it looked like it was going to be our day after all, when Wayne Rooney hit a low shot into the corner with just 15 minutes left. But no, future Blue Marcus Bent headed in a stoppage time corner to put a crowning turd on a horrible day.
Memorable Meeting
Leicester City 0-1 Everton (Speed (P) 89) Premier League, December 20th 1997
Our last win on Leicester soil, and what a big one it was. We were 19th in the table, and in big trouble just before Christmas. Winless in 8, only 3 goals in that time and no away win in the League all season. But salvation arrived when Kasey Keller brought down Danny Cadamarteri for a late late penalty...Gary Speed stepped up, having missed in a 0-0 draw at Leeds a few weeks earlier...but no mistake this time, and we had crucial crucial win in a season where we stayed up by the skin of our teeth!
Prediction
We ALWAYS draw at Leicester, always. I can see probably the same again! Leicester City 1-1 Everton
No comments:
Post a Comment