Leicester City v Everton

After a disastrous return from a relatively easy set of early season fixtures, Everton now face their toughest run of the campaign. 

Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are all on the horizon for Everton, who face the very real prospect of entering 2020 in the Premier League’s bottom three, unless the Blues can produce a dramatic change in form between now and the clash against Manchester City on New Year’s Day. 

Marco Silva is on extremely thin ice going into this one and it is looking more than likely the Portuguese will need a repeat of his side’s last outing at the King Power Stadium to have any chance of saving his job. 

Goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson sealed all three points for the Toffees in October of last year. 

But the Foxes have been nothing short of spectacular so far this term under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, with their early-season form making them likely to finish in a Champions League spot come May. 

They go into match week 14 in second place, eight points behind leaders Liverpool. 

Leicester have only lost twice this season, both by one goal deficits at Old Trafford and Anfield respectively. 

The sides are set to renew battle in the middle of next month when they face off in the Carabao Cup at Goodison Park aiming to secure a place in the semi-final. 

The Foxes currently boast the best defensive record in the division, only conceding eight times after 13 games. 

Only Man City have netted more than Leicester’s 31 goals so far. 

One to watch

The midlands club are blessed with a number of top-class attacking options with Jamie Vardy, Ayoze Perez, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in their ranks. 

And it’s former England forward Vardy who will pose the biggest threat to Everton’s leaky back line this weekend. 

The 32-year-old is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with an impressive 12 strikes. 

He netted the winner between the sides the last time they came face-to-face in January. 

Team news

Everton have been hit with an injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s match. 

Seamus Coleman will be out of action for a month, whereas Morgan Schneiderlin, Theo Walcott, Richarlison and Fabian Delph are all major doubts according to Silva. 

Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are still recovering from long-term layoffs. 

Bernard should be once again available for selection. 

Man in the middle

Graham Scott will be in charge of the whistle, in nine games this season he has shown 29 yellow cards and three reds.