Leicester City continued their incredible run of form, defeating Everton 3-2 in a Riyad Mahrez-inspired performance at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Foxes were forced to do some chasing in the opening stages of the first half with Everton grabbing a toehold on the game. They were unable to create anything of note and would soon be punished by the league leaders.
Ramiro Funes Mori manhandled a clever Shinji Okazaki in the box as he broke towards the touchline, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
Up stepped the in-form Algerian, who calmly slotted an excellent penalty into the bottom corner beyond the outstretched Tim Howard.
It took the hosts only five minutes to equalise. Their own dominant attacker, Romelu Lukaku, thumped home after some good work by Ross Barkley saw his effort cleared off the line.
The second stanza commenced in much the same manner as the first with Everton again looking to get on the front foot. Yet they were not able to capitalise and Leicester were able to take advantage once more.
In another case of déjà vu, the Foxes were rightfully awarded a penalty just after the hour mark after Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard brought down Jamie Vardy, whose touch was set to take him past the American.
Mahrez dispatched the ensuing spot kick with ease to complete his brace before Shinji Okazaki added a third with a clinical finish minutes later.
Some hope was restored for the Toffees in the 89th minute through substitute Kevin Mirallas but it was too little, too late.
Three points means Leicester will sit atop the Premier League table on Christmas Day. Everton, meanwhile, are winless since their 4-0 drubbing of Aston Villa a month ago.
Formations
Everton’s settled starting XI saw no changes made by Roberto Martinez for the third straight match. Tom Cleverley continued to fill the boots of the injured James McCarthy.
It was a trademark 4-2-3-1 from the Toffees with Lukaku leading the line.
Claudio Ranieri made two changes to his world-beating team, both of which were forced. Marcin Wasilewski was drafted in at centre-back as Robert Huth served a one-game ban while Andy King lined up in centre-midfield with Danny Drinkwater sidelined.
Vardy and Okazaki comprised an attacking duet as the Tinkerman maintained a mightily successful 4-4-2.
Everton look right with little success
Utilising the right-hand side has become a regular fixture in Everton’s attacking play that, so far this season, has yielded mixed results.
Why wouldn’t they? That side boasts one of England’s most in-form wingers: Gerard Deulofeu, who has seven assists to his name.
The Blues repeated the dose against the Foxes, heavily favouring the right versus the left-hand side. But this time the right side did not bear any fruit. Deulofeu and indeed Seamus Coleman often occupied dangerous positions but could only manage seven deliveries that had any potential to find a target with just as many blocked by Leicester defenders.
By the same token, the fleet-footed Spaniard completed only 50% of the 10 take-ons he attempted.
Is this tendency becoming too predictable? Ranieri and his side dealt with the threat extremely well.
Foxes happy to concede possession
Being a side that loves to hang onto the ball, Everton are always likely to enjoy the lion’s share of possession, especially within the confides of Goodison Park.
That is exactly what happened against Leicester, with the visitors happy to allow the home team the majority of the ball – 67% to be exact.
In this instance, the full time scoreline tells the story: possession is not the be-all and end-all. The Foxes made their own chances but counter-attacked with purpose, having only three less shots on target than Everton (10) but the same number on target (five) despite seeing much less of the ball.
They could have put the cherry on top of a very handy victory at the death. Leonardo Ulloa received the ball after the Midlands side burst up the field after an Everton attack only to be denied brilliantly by Howard.
Mahrez in the middle
At the moment, the 24-year-old Algeria international would be dangerous whether he was dispatched out wide or in a more central role. He is the current owner of Leicester City’s right-midfield berth and has wreaked havoc in the role, scoring 13 goals with an additional seven assists.
By the book, Mahrez was officially named at right-midfield and that is where he did much of his work. But he often drifted into the middle, spending much of his time at the top of the penalty box as well as advanced positions on the flank and on the penalty spot itself.
Mahrez slotting into the number 10 role was the catalyst in putting Leicester back in front. His deft through ball was perfectly weighted as Vardy closed in on the Everton goal, touching it around Howard to win a penalty as he went down. For the second time in the game, Mahrez converted a spot kick with ease.
Everton Conclusion
This is Everton’s first defeat since 25 October against Arsenal, but that unbeaten run does not tell a true story. Defeat against Leicester – one at the top of their game – signals the end of a poor month for Everton that has been blighted by profligate displays with dropped points aplenty.
Sloppy work at the back was ultimately their undoing as well as the Foxes’ ruthlessness, but the Toffees cannot argue against the result. A clash against Newcastle United awaits on Boxing Day in what looms as a crucial 90 minuted for the Merseysiders.
Leicester City Conclusion
The Foxes continue to fly and there looks to be no end in sight to this hot streak that has the footballing globe captivated. The personnel and the system in place is working near flawlessly with Mahrez and Vardy leading the charge.
Leicester are top at Christmas… after being last at the same stage last season. The current squad can only strengthen too, with Huth and Drinkwater still to return.
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