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Attendance: 31,891
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Premier League
Oct 29, 2017 at 4pm UK
 
Everton logo

2-0

Vardy (18'), Gray (29')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Live Commentary: Leicester City 2-0 Everton - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole live coverage of Leicester City's 2-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League.
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Leicester City have moved into 11th place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Everton in this afternoon's clash at the King Power Stadium.

Claude Puel was taking charge of his first Foxes' match, and Leicester deservedly led at the break thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray.

Everton had more shots on goal over the course of the 90 minutes, but the Toffees were poor and remain in the bottom three of the standings.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in the East Midlands courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Leicester City and Everton. It's the battle of the new managers today with Claude Puel and David Unsworth being given their respective roles earlier this week, but how do their first league starting lineups match up? Let's find out...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Maguire, Morgan, Fuchs; Ndidi, Iborra, Chilwell, Gray, Mahrez; Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Hamer, Dragovic, King, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Slimani, Okazaki.


EVERTON XI: Pickford; Kenny, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Davies, Lennon, Rooney, Mirallas; Calvert-Lewin

EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Robles, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Niasse, Holgate, Lookman, Baningime


Firstly, let's take a look at the Leicester team news, and we must say, we are not certain how the Foxes are going to line up this afternoon. Puel has chosen a team which could be 4-5-1 or three at the back, with Christian Fuchs as a third centre-back and Ben Chilwell at wing-back.

Either way, Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire will be lining up in the centre and Danny Simpson will be on the right-hand side in some capacity. The centre of the park will be made up of Wilfred Ndidi and Vicente Iborra. Shakespeare was unlucky that he did not get to use Iborra all that much before his departure. It may have made the difference...

One player who must be pleased with Shakespeare's exit is Demarai Gray because the winger has been handed an immediate start by Puel. Before today, the 21-year-old had only featured in the starting lineup in the Premier League on one occasion this season. There's little surprise that Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy keep their places in the team.

Leicester's bench is offensive-minded, with Shinj Okazaki, Kelechi Iheanacho and Islam Slimani all among the replacements. It's harsh on Okazaki, who has netted four goals in the Premier League this season. Aleksandar Dragovic will be hoping to feature at some point - he is yet to play in the top flight this season after sealing a loan move from Bayer Leverkusen.

As for Everton, Unsworth has certainly shown that he does not feel obliged to play the club's star names. Gylfi Sigurdsson is only among the substitutes, but with no goals assists in eight games, he can't really argue.

Jonjoe Kenny gets another start at right-back, with Tom Davies being preferred to Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield. Idrissa Gueye - who is said to be close to signing a new contract with the Toffees - returns after a one-match ban. Beni Baningime is on the bench after making his senior debut against Chelsea in the EFL Cup.

There are rare starts for both Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas on either flank. The two players have featured for just 35 minutes between them in the Premier League this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the line with Wayne Rooney playing in the number-10 role.

As well as Sigurdsson, Oumar Niasse also has to make do with a place on the bench. The Senegalese forward has three goals from 154 minutes of Premier League action this season after his reprieve from Ronald Koeman. Ademola Lookman is another player who will want more game time, with the youngster only playing 16 minutes in the top flight this campaign.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Amex Stadium and Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton have played out a 1-1 draw. I think both sides will be satisfied with that result.

To read our on-the-whistle match report, click here.


What does that mean for the Premier League table?

Southampton and Brighton now sit in ninth and 11th place respectively. Leicester can move above Brighton in the table on goal difference with a win this afternoon, while Everton could potentially reach the dizzy heights of 13th with an away triumph.


We will start our look at Leicester by taking a look at the Foxes' home record because in the past, that is what they have relied on. However, this season, Leicester have only claimed four points from four home games, although their two defeats did come to Chelsea and Liverpool. Their sole win came against Brighton & Hove Albion on the second weekend of the campaign, while victories have come against Liverpool and Leeds United in the EFL Cup.

You may assume that Leicester haven't been faring that well recently but despite the sacking of Craig Shakespeare, the Foxes have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions. Two of those games were won by Michael Appleton but still, they have hardly been playing like a team who needed a change in manager...

A change in manager is what has occurred, however, and Puel gets a second crack at the Premier League. In his stint at Southampton, 20 wins and 20 defeats were recorded from 53 games, with the Saints finished in eight place in the table. Leicester would take that this season, right?

That said, Southampton really struggled for goals under Puel's leadership - with just 41 coming in the top flight last season - and it makes you wonder how the Frenchman will get the best out of the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Islam Slimani. There are plenty of options at his disposal so he can have few excuses if his new side struggle in the final third.

Talking of goals, Leicester have only had four different scorers in the top flight this season - Vardy, Okazaki, Maguire and Mahrez. Iheanacho has not netted in 200 minutes and Slimani in 108 minutes. They will see this as a fresh start to try to get into the team on a more regular basis.

We will end our look at the Foxes on a negative note - sorry, Leicester fans! Last season, the East Midlands outfit failed to win a single game played on a Sunday. They had seven attempts!

Leicester may have failed to win a single game on a Sunday last season, but Everton are currently on a run of 12 away games without success. You have to go all the way back to January 21 for their last triumph, which came at Crystal Palace.

Clean sheets are also proving to be a problem for the Toffees. Their only shutout in 14 games came in an EFL Cup fixture against Sunderland. The last clean sheet in the Premier League came on the opening day of the season against Stoke City.

That record is not in keeping with the additions of Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane during the summer. For the most part, Pickford has been terrific and single-handedly kept the score down against Arsenal last weekend, but Keane has failed to build on a strong start. The form of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka has not helped matters either. They may have their hands full with Vardy this afternoon.

The Everton faithful will be hoping the introduction of Unsworth as manager will help that part of the game out. Club legend Unsworth - who was a left-footed and mostly left-sided defender during his playing days - made 348 appearances during two spells at Goodison Park. It's a shame that Unsworth has long been retired - Everton are crying out for some competition for Baines.

Despite their struggles, we have to admit that this statistic surprised us. While Leicester have only had four league scorers this season, Everton have only had two - Rooney and Niasse! It's an indication that summer signings Klaassen, Sigurdsson and Ramirez need to step up. Over £70m was spent on their signatures.

Rooney comes in for his fair share of flak, but the former England skipper has five goals from 12 appearances in all competitions. He has scored the winner against Stoke, a crucial goal in a draw with Manchester City and a late penalty at Brighton & Hove Albion to earn a point. Where would Everton be without their returning hero?

PREDICTION! Both teams will take a certain degree of encouragement from their most recent matches - even if Everton did lose to Chelsea in midweek - and we think the clubs will cancel each other out at the King Power. We fancy Everton to rally late on and nick a 1-1 draw.

HEAD TO HEAD! This afternoon's meeting represents the 107th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive contest, with Everton claiming 40 wins in comparison to 34 victories for Leicester. However, despite Everton leading on the historical front, Leicester have lost just two of the last eight clashes, winning three.

However, Everton have a decent record at the King Power. A win and two draws have been recorded from four games in the East Midlands, including a 2-0 victory on Boxing Day of last year. Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku got the goals on that occasion.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out. As expected, Puel has been given a warm reception, despite mixed opinions over his appointment. You feel as though it is important that he doesn't suffer defeat in his first match.

A remainder of the team news...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Maguire, Morgan, Fuchs; Ndidi, Iborra, Chilwell, Gray, Mahrez; Vardy

EVERTON XI: Pickford; Kenny, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Davies, Lennon, Rooney, Mirallas; Calvert-Lewin


KICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power.

Leicester have started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Chilwell starting at left midfield. Slightly defensive from Puel...

Everton have already sent in a cross from the left, but Mirallas's delivery was well defended.


SHOT! Gray picks up the ball around 40 yards from goal and he only has one thing on his mind. The winger advances forward before drilling a low effort marginally wide of Pickford's post.

Maguire comes off second best after a coming together with Calvert-Lewin, but the centre-back appears ok to continue after a bit of a limp.

We've not seen a whole lot of Everton in the final third. The ball is bouncing off Calvert-Lewin when he receives the ball. Maguire is an intimidating presence behind the young striker.

CHANCE! Leicester are pressing. A corner finds its way to Morgan at the back post. who sees his deflected half-volley go just over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Leicester have been excellent in these opening nine minutes. Gray is released down the right and his pull-back finds Chilwell. However, the ball is on his wrong-foot and he blazes well over.

Now Vardy gets down the left and delivers a brilliant pass across the box. However, no-one is there to finish off from close range.

Everton have done a little better over the past couple of minutes with Rooney finally getting some time on the ball, but the visitors are very much second best. Puel will be delighted with his team's energy.

We are going to have a stoppage in play after Mahrez sustains a head injury. He has got a small cut on the back of his head.

The Algerian has also gone for a short sleeve and gloves combo. That should be made a yellow card offence.


Calvert-Lewin is finally given a chance to stretch his legs down the left but after cutting inside, the youngster allows Maguire to block his cross. Encouraging signs from Everton, however.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Everton (Jamie Vardy)

Leicester take the lead and you not see a better team goal all weekend. Gray takes the ball past three players after starting in his own final third and eventually tees up Mahrez to send a cross towards the back post for Vardy to power into the roof of the net from close range.

BOOKING! Davies goes into the book for a cynical pull on Vardy. Easy decision for the referee.

CHANCE! Leicester look absolutely fantastic. Maybe Puel is the right man after all?! Vardy breaks down the left and although the ball into Mahrez is behind the Algerian, Williams is outmuscled before a low shot is fired too close to Pickford.

Rooney trips Iborra and questions why the Spaniard is holding his ankle after being kicked on it. Frustration is setting in with the Toffees.

I'm trying not to over-exaggerate how well Leicester have played in these opening 26 minutes but it is difficult not to. They have been electric. Everton have been poor, or they are at least being made to look poor.

CHANCE! After all that, it should be 1-1. Rooney plays in Lennon who provides the cross for Calvert-Lewin, but the striker is distracted by the defender and the ball eventually goes through his legs when he should convert from eight yards.

Everton are beginning to threaten. Rooney is finding more and more time on the ball and that means danger for Leicester. Either Ndidi or Iborria need to get closer to the forward.

GOAL! Leicester City 2-0 Everton (Jonjoe Kenny own goal)

Kenny has just scored an own goal of epic proportions. Gray's inswinging cross is poor but Kenny slices the ball into his own net from around 10 yards out.

Hmmm, this looked like a penalty, but it hasn't been given. Lennon is starting to get in behind Fuchs with regularity and the winger appeared to be brought down here. However, the referee decides that Fuchs has played the ball. He didn't.

Despite that bit of good fortune, Leicester are completely rampant. Gray is making a mockery of the decision to keep in reserve for much of the season.

SHOT! Back come Everton, who almost capitalise on Mahrez over-playing it in a dangerous position. Mirallas tried a pot shot from distance, but his curler from 25 yards went wide of the far post.

SHOT! Same distance, same outcome. Mirallas curls this effort towards the opposite corner but the ball takes a deflection and goes a yard wide.

Everton are having their best spell of the match, but Leicester don't necessarily look like conceding. Still, if Everton can nick a goal before the break, they will arguably be the happier of the two teams given the gulf in level of performance.

Leicester's game management has to be questioned here. Once they retrieve possession, they are immediately looking for Vardy with a long ball. It's only inviting pressure back onto themselves with just four minutes left before the break.

For whatever reason, the Premier League have decided to give Leicester's second goal to Gray. It's an own goal!

SHOT! You know things are getting desperate when Jagielka is trying to score from 30 yards. His shot was dragged well wide.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 2-0 Everton

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester deservedly lead at the break thanks to goals from Vardy and Gray. Claude Puel's opening 45 minutes in charge of the Foxes could not have gone much better, but Unsworth has got a job on his hands to life his side. They have been thoroughly outclassed.

Leicester's opener is one of the goals of the season so far - not for a piece of individual brilliance but for a flowing team move and the blistering turn of pace of Gray. The winger - making just his second league start of the season - ran at least half of the length of the pitch before setting up Mahrez, who delivered a fine ball across the box for Vardy to fire home into the roof of the net.

The second goal has been given to Gray, but it's undoubtedly an own goal, for me anyway. The cross was poor and although the direction of the ball has not changed, Kenny sliced the ball past Pickford. The right-back will feel fortunate not to have his name down on the scoresheet.

Everton have had a few moments at the King Power but they are both off the pace and seemingly lacking in confidence. The Leicester front three have run rings around them. That said, the Toffees should have had a penalty when Lennon was hauled down by Fuchs.

The two clubs have made their way back out in the East Midlands. Everton have made two changes, with Niasse and Baningime replacing Lennon and Mirallas.

KICKOFF! Everton get us back underway.

Everton have started at a much faster pace than in the first half. They have already earned a corner on the right, but Schmeichel did well to punch clear.

Leicester are yet to get going since the restart, but they haven't come under much pressure, aside from that corner. You feel as though the visitors will have to do something really special to get back into this contest.

Niasse should be doing better here. Rooney picks out his teammate with a floated pass towards the back post but the striker fails to control the ball and Schmeichel claims.

We are still awaiting the first shot of the second half, which suits Leicester. Everton are playing a dangerously high line. That ball to Vardy always looks on.

For a player who has found himself out of the reckoning, Gray looks so confident. A couple of neat exchanges with teammates on the wing end with a free kick being earned.

SHOT! Leicester are working the ball around sharply, and a Fuchs cross is flicked on by Ndidi for Vardy, whose overhead kick on the turn goes wide of the post.

SHOT! Gueye isn't known for his goals but the midfielder tries a driven effort from distance, only to see it deflected just over the bar by Maguire. Nothing came from the resulting corner.

Everton are starting to impose themselves on the match, but they are lacking a cutting edge in attack. Credit has to be paid to Leicester's centre-backs, who haven't gifted any opportunities inside the penalty area.

Leicester haven't seen much of the ball over the past five minutes. The visiting support are showing signs of being encouraged. Still, they need a goal sooner rather than later. Leicester remain in control.

As Calvert-Lewin is sent clear down the flank, Schmeichel slips and there's an opening for Everton. However, the striker decides to cross inside of shooting, and Morgan is able to cut out his intended pass for Niasse.

BOOKING! Gueye goes into the book for stopping a counter-attack by fouling Vardy.

CHANCE! It's only a half chance but Kenny's cross finds the head of Rooney, who heads well wide from around 12 yards. It was a difficult opportunity.

Everton are certainly having the better of this second half but there are too many needless passes when they approach the box. They need more urgency to avoid Leicester's defence getting set.

CHANCE! More positive play from Everton sees Baines deliver a cross into the middle but Niasse can't get anything behind his effort on goal. Less than 20 minutes to go at the King Power.

SUBSTITUTION! Everton's third and final change sees Sigurdsson replace Rooney.

SUBSTITUTION! Now it is Puel's time to act, with Okazaki replacing Mahrez. The Algerian is having a bit of a sulk.

A crude challenge from Jagielka on Vardy rightly results in a free kick for Leicester but had the referee played advantage, Okazaki was all on his own in front of goal. That said, difficult to criticise the referee in that situation.

I don't think that Leicester have necessarily changed tactics in this second half, but they are showing a determination which will impress Puel as much as their football did in the first half. The foundations look there for Puel to be a success.

If only Vardy's first touch was better here. The striker deceives Jagielka and he looks set to move through on goal but a bad touch when advancing forward lets Williams in to make the challenge.

SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Leicester sees Chilwell replaced by Albrighton. The young Englishman has put in a shift for his side this afternoon.

A sharp turn from Niasse on the byline leads to a cross being sent into the box but Morgan's header diverts the ball behind for a corner, which comes to nothing despite Vardy getting in the way of Schmeichel.

CHANCE! Fortunately for Leicester, this missed chance from Iborra shouldn't prove costly. A fine cross from Vardy finds the midfielder all on his own in the penalty area, but the former Sevilla man fails to get the ball under control and eventually pokes wide.

Leicester are on their way to three wins in a row since the departure of Shakespeare. The future looks bright at the Foxes, providing that they can see this game out.

SHOT! This is as close as Everton have come this half. The ball sits up for Baines on the edge of the penalty area but his volely is sent onto the roof of the net.

SUBSTITUTION! A final change for Leicester sees Iheanacho replace Vardy.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

We are simply going through the motions now. This game is as good as over.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 2-0 Everton

The full-time whistle has gone at the King Power Stadium and Leicester have comfortably seen out a 2-0 win over Everton. Goals from Vardy and Gray proved to be the difference for the Foxes, who now sit in 11th place in the standings. Everton remain in the bottom three after a fifth league defeat in seven.

That will be all from Sports Mole's for this game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report from the game in the East Midlands, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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Claude Puel watches on during the Premier League game between Stoke City and Southampton on December 14, 2016
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