Everton 0 – 2 Leicester

Superb strikes from Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes in either half gave Leicester a 2-0 victory against Everton on Saturday Night Football.

It was another special goal from the Belgian midfielder, who followed up a sensational effort against Wolves with a similarly sensational effort at Goodison Park.

On the stroke of half-time, James Maddison – who once again impressed for the Foxes – found Tielemans on the edge of the area. He controlled with his thigh before thundering the ball into the top left corner.

Everton were sloppy throughout and were punished late on as a Leicester counter ended with a second. Maddison drove down the left flank, flashing a cross into the 18-yard box that Barnes smashed past Jordan Pickford. The 24-year-old has now scored in all four of Leicester’s Premier League wins this season.

With England’s World Cup squad announcement later this month, Maddison is being heavily tipped for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.

When asked if the thought was on his mind, the Leicester forward told Sky Sports: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t in my mind because the World Cup’s nearly here and that’s the pinnacle, that’s the dream.

“I always say the same answer and it becomes a bit cliché but if I focus on what I do for Leicester and my performances here hopefully that catches the eye of the England manager and hopefully I can force my way into his plans.

“It’s out of my control and I can just do what I did then for 90 minutes.”

Alex Iwobi and Dominic Calvert-Lewin – taken off injured in the second half in another worry for Southgate – both went close for Everton, but they were unable to find a way past a Leicester defence who have conceded just three goals in six Premier League games.

Leicester move above Everton into 13th place, now winning three of their last four league matches as Brendan Rodgers registered his first win at Goodison Park. Everton drop into 15th, with both sides level on 14 points.

How Leicester saw off Everton

It was an enthralling opening 15 minutes at Goodison Park. Inside three minutes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall twice found Patson Daka, but the Leicester forward could not convert – his second effort was well-saved by Pickford.

At the other end, Alex Iwobi was found brilliantly by Calvert-Lewin, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of the far post. Maddison then fired just wide as both teams survived the respective onslaughts.

The game soon found a more settled rhythm, but Leicester began to assert themselves with Everton continuing to make errors.

Danny Ward kept out a James Tarkowski header, while Dewsbury-Hall drew a save from Pickford. Maddison also saw two further efforts – carbon copies of his first – fire wide.

After a brief stoppage following firework debris being found on the Goodison Park pitch, Tielemans came up with a late first-half stunner as Leicester went into the break deservedly in front.

Everton were much improved after the break and could have equalised within four minutes. Iwobi slotted Calvert-Lewin through one-on-one with Ward, but the goalkeeper stuck his feet out to make the save. On the hour, Maddison’s curling effort hit the bottom of the post.

The game looked to largely be meandering until Barnes popped up with Leicester’s second goal, which sealed a deserved victory. They could even have added a third in added time, as Maddison found Barnes once again, but Pickford denied the Foxes midfielder.

Player of the match – James Maddison

Another superb performance from Maddison, who is hitting form at just the right time. He was top in the match for assists (2), shots (8) and touches in the opposition box (12).

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said of his performance: “He’s had a role in both goals but right through the game he’s looked a class apart. I’ve been really impressed. He’s been outstanding.”

Maddison added to Sky Sports after the game: “The result is what we’re after but if you look at the performance across the whole XI we were brilliant.

“We stifled them and were brilliant, especially in the first half. We saw the game out and everything was there you’d want in an away performance. I think that puts to bed the form and people like you media lot talk about being in the bottom three. Hopefully we can keep on pushing on.”

England World Cup watch: Maddison shines but Pickford concerns

The standout England prospect was again Maddison on Saturday evening. As detailed above, he was top in most attacking categories and has spearheaded Leicester’s recent return to form.

Barnes – who has one England cap – also impressed with a fine strike, although is unlikely to work his way into Southgate’s World Cup plans.

However, Everton’s England contingent did not fare as well. Combining with Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin looked like the Toffees’ biggest attacking threat, but was taken off injured in the 61st minute.

Jordan Pickford also had some nervous moments, making some questionable decisions and clearances. Conor Coady and James Tarkowski also featured in a defence that conceded twice.

Opta stats – Leicester back on form

• Leicester have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven Premier League fixtures; they had only kept four clean sheets in their first 27 league games in 2022 before this.
• Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers enjoyed his first ever away win over Everton in the Premier League, in what was his ninth game at Goodison Park as a manager in the competition (W1 D6 L2). Before today, this was the Northern Irishman’s joint-most away games against a side in the Premier League without ever winning (also eight v Chelsea).
• James Maddison attempted six shots in the first half for Leicester against Everton, the most by a midfielder in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since Paul Pogba had six against Leicester in August 2017.

FPL stats: Everton 0-2 Leicester

What’s next?

Everton now face back-to-back clashes at Bournemouth. The pair meet at the Vitality Stadium in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at 7.45pm and then play there again four days later in the Premier League with kick-off at 3pm.

Leicester host League Two side Newport County in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at 7.45pm before ending this pre-World Cup stint of the Premier League with a trip to West Ham on Saturday, November 12. Kick-off is 3pm.