Mark Lawrenson is backing Leicester City to beat Everton this afternoon.
Mark Lawrenson
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Leicester City will make it six straight Premier League wins under Craig Shakespeare with a 2-0 victory at Everton today.
The Toffees head into the game having drawn 1-1 at Manchester United in midweek, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story; Everton had led at Old Trafford for over 70 minutes thanks to Phil Jagielka’s goal, but suffered late heartbreak.
Ashley Williams was sent off for handball in the 93rd minute, giving Zlatan Ibrahimovic the chance to score a last-gasp equaliser from the penalty spot – and he duly obliged.
Williams will subsequently miss this afternoon’s game with Leicester City through suspension, in a major blow for manager Ronald Koeman given that he is also without Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori.
With just one point taken from the last two games, Everton will hope to get back to winning ways, but face a red-hot Leicester side, who have turned their season around since the departure of Claudio Ranieri in February.
Last season’s title winners were staring relegation in the face before Ranieri’s exit, but his replacement Craig Shakespeare has now won each of his five Premier League games in charge, including the 2-0 midweek win over Sunderland.
The Foxes are now pushing for a top half finish after their miraculous turnaround, and pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he is backing Leicester for a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.
General view before the game
Lawrenson has admitted that he is concerned about Everton’s patchwork defence, and believes Leicester will claim another three points have regained their ‘swagger’ under Shakespeare.
“Everton were much improved at Old Trafford after their poor performance at the weekend in the Merseyside derby,” said Lawrenson. “They should have beaten Manchester United and maybe would have done if they had made the most of the counter-attacks they had in the second half.
“But the Toffees have already had a tough week and Ashley Williams’ suspension means they are without another key player at the back. This is not a good time to play Leicester, who look unstoppable at the moment. The Foxes have got their swagger back and I think they will win,” he added.
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