Leicester City vs Everton: Premier League 2024 Match Analysis

Final Score: Leicester City 1-1 Everton

Overview

The Premier League clash between Leicester City and Everton on September 21, 2024, ended in a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium. Both teams remain winless in the league this season, with Everton securing their first point and Leicester adding another draw to their tally. The match was marked by adverse weather conditions, including a thunderstorm that delayed the start of the second half.

Key Moments and Goals

• 12th Minute: Iliman Ndiaye opened the scoring for Everton with a well-taken goal, his first in the Premier League. The goal came from a brilliant pass by Ashley Young, which Ndiaye converted by squeezing the ball in off the post.
• 73rd Minute: Stephy Mavididi equalized for Leicester, capitalizing on a corner that fell kindly to him in the six-yard box. His shot on the turn bounced into the net, securing a point for the Foxes.

Tactical Analysis

Everton

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Players: Iliman Ndiaye, Ashley Young, Dominic Calvert-Lewin
• Tactics: Everton started brightly, pressing high and creating several chances. Ndiaye was particularly impressive, linking up well with Young and McNeil. However, Everton's inability to convert more of their chances and their tendency to sit back and defend their lead ultimately cost them.

Leicester City

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Players: Stephy Mavididi, Harry Winks, Mads Hermansen
• Tactics: Leicester struggled in the first half, with misplaced passes and a lack of cohesion. However, they improved significantly in the second half, pressing higher and creating more opportunities. Mavididi was a constant threat down the left flank, and his persistence paid off with the equalizer.

Match Conditions

The match was played under challenging weather conditions, with a thunderstorm causing a 21-minute delay at halftime. The torrential rain made the pitch slippery and affected the players' footing, contributing to a scrappy and physical game.

Managerial Comments

Sean Dyche (Everton)

Dyche was relatively upbeat despite the draw, describing it as a "positive mini step." He highlighted the team's improved defensive performance, restricting Leicester to only two shots on target. However, he acknowledged the need for his team to be more clinical in front of goal and to maintain their leads.

Steve Cooper (Leicester City)

Cooper admitted that his team was second best in the first half but praised their resilience and improved performance in the second half. He emphasized the need for his team to put together a complete 90-minute performance and to start converting draws into wins.

Player Performances

Everton

• Iliman Ndiaye: The standout player for Everton, Ndiaye was involved in most of their attacking play and scored a well-deserved goal.
• Ashley Young: Provided the assist for Ndiaye's goal and was solid defensively.
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Had several chances to extend Everton's lead but was denied by some excellent saves from Hermansen.

Leicester City

• Stephy Mavididi: Leicester's most creative player, Mavididi was a constant threat and scored the equalizer.
• Harry Winks: Controlled the midfield and provided the assist for Mavididi's goal.
• Mads Hermansen: Made crucial saves to keep Leicester in the game, particularly in the first half.

Statistical Highlights

• Shots on Target: Leicester 2, Everton 4
• Possession: Leicester 52%, Everton 48%
• Corners: Leicester 6, Everton 4
• Fouls: Leicester 12, Everton 14

Conclusion

The 1-1 draw between Leicester City and Everton was a fair result given the balance of play. Both teams showed moments of quality but were ultimately unable to secure their first win of the season. Everton will be disappointed to have let another lead slip, while Leicester will be encouraged by their second-half performance. Both managers have work to do to turn these draws into wins and to climb up the Premier League table.