Leicester City 2-2 Everton – Foxes move out of relegation zone with Premier League draw against visitors

Leicester City moved out of the relegation zone despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Everton in an incident-packed clash at the King Power Stadium.

Sean Dyche’s Toffees were the more proactive side for the majority of the first period and deservedly broke the deadlock when Dominic Calvert-Lewin slammed home a 15th-minute penalty.

Leicester hit back and Caglar Soyuncu slid home a half volley seven minutes later before Jamie Vardy raced clear to round Jordan Pickford and put the hosts in front just past the half hour.

Calvert-Lewin then contrived to fluff his lines from three yards out with a contender for miss of the season and he was almost punished seconds later, but Vardy’s clipped effort nicked the crossbar.

Everton suffered a blow just prior to the interval when captain Seamus Coleman was stretched off injured and their misery was almost compounded deep into stoppage time, but James Maddison fired a penalty straight at Pickford.

It proved to be a key save too as Alex Iwobi steered in a cool far-post finish on 54 minutes to drag the visitors level.

Both sides pressed for a winner but neither created a truly clear-cut opening as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

The result sees the Foxes move out of the drop zone and into 16th spot on goal difference from Leeds and Nottingham Forest, who are all on 30 points. Everton remain one point further back in 19th place.

Leicester will aim to continue their survival push when they visit Fulham next Monday night while Everton face a tough trip to Brighton.

Talking point

A point gained or two points dropped after ‘must-win game’ ends all-square? This was billed as the old cliché of a relegation six-pointer and given the predicament of both teams and the standings, it certainly was the case. The draw nudges the Foxes out of the drop zone and provides some sort of momentum under Dean Smith heading into the final four, but they would surely have identified this match as one to win.

Everton were much-improved and will feel it was a step in the right direction, but they do appear to have it tougher in the games ahead with Europe-chasing Brighton away followed by title-favourites Manchester City at Goodison Park.

Dyche will have clear designs on wins over Wolves away and Bournemouth at home on the last day of the season if they are to have realistic hope of preserving their proud record as a top-flight side, and the latter two could well be the key fixtures in determining where they play next season.

The Foxes are away to Fulham, at home to Liverpool, away to Newcastle and at home to West Ham with the prospect of shock results and more twists and turns likely to take this scrap right down to the wire.

Player of the match

Daniel Iversen (Leicester City). The 25-year-old Dane has impressed since replacing Danny Ward as Leicester’s No.1 and he produced a string of top-class saves to showcase his qualities and help ensure his side did not end up empty-handed.

Player Ratings

LEICESTER CITY: Iversen 9, Castagne 7, Faes 7, Soyuncu 8, Thomas 7, Ndidi 7, Tielemans 7, Soumare 7, Barnes 7, Maddison 7, Vardy 7. Subs: Daka 6, Kristiansen n/a, Praet n/a.

EVERTON: Pickford 8, Coleman 7, Keane 7, Tarkowski 7, Mykolenko 7, Garner 7, Gueye 7, Doucoure 8, Iwobi 8, McNeil 7, Calvert-Lewin 7. Subs: Patterson 6.

Match Highlights

08’ – EVERTON CHANCE! Iwobi lets fly with a first-time strike from the right edge of the area after a surging run and pass from Doucouré, but Iversen sticks out a big hand to somehow push it over the crossbar.

15’ – GOAL! – Leicester City 0-1 Everton. Calvert-Lewin hammers a superb spot kick high down the middle with Iversen diving away to his right. The penalty was awarded following Castagne’s rash shove on the Toffees striker.

22’ – GOAL! – Leicester City 1-1 Everton. Soyuncu slides a half volley beyond PIckford from Faes’ header back across goal after Everton had failed to deal with a right-wing set piece.

33’ – GOAL! – Leicester City 2-1 Everton. Vardy rampages after Maddison’s cool through ball, rounds Pickford and fires the hosts in front.

43’ – EVERTON CHANCES! Iversen pulls off a wonderful reaction stop to keep out McNeil’s eight-yard effort before Doucoure woefully blazes over the rebound from further out. The Toffees come again but Calvert-Lewin somehow fails to put it past Iversen from three yards out. That’s a real candidate for miss of the season.

44’ – LEICESTER CHANCE! Vardy almost punishes DCL for that horror miss by racing clear just seconds later, but after twisting his marker inside out he clips the crossbar with a lifted shot over the advancing Pickford.

53’ – EVERTON CHANCE! Iversen is at it again with another excellent save with his left leg to keep out a low near-post effort from Calvert-Lewin.

55’ – GOAL! – Leicester City 2-2 Everton. Iwobi arrives on the far right of the area to steer a low shot into the far corner after a cross from the left had dropped his way.

60’ – LEICESTER CHANCE! Maddison’s lovely cross from the right is volleyed back into the middle by Barnes for Vardy, but his goal-bound header is nodded off the line by Tarkowski.

87’ – LEICESTER CHANCE! What a save! Iversen flings himself to his right to produce a great save to keep out Doucoure’s blockbusting effort from 25 yards out.

Key Stats

For the first time since the start of the 2016/17 season at least, both teams registered 3+ Expected Goals in a single Premier League game.

Maddison has missed more penalties (2) than he has scored (1) in his Premier League career.

Leicester have avoided defeat in three games in a row in the Premier League (won one, drew two), after losing eight and drawing one of the nine before that.

Everton are without a win in seven Premier League games (drew four, lost three), after winning three of the first seven under Sean Dyche directly before that (drew one, lost three).

Only Southampton (24) have conceded the first goal of a Premier League game this season more often than Leicester (21).