Everton have squandered 2-0 leads in their last two Premier League matches and suffered more misery in losing a penalty shootout to Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
They next head to Leicester, a team who had midweek off and were unlucky to only draw their last outing at Crystal Palace, themselves being 2-0 up before being pegged back by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s brace, the second being a stoppage-time penalty.
There has been a lot going on for the Foxes since sealing promotion back to the top flight but they have generally produced solid performances under new boss Steve Cooper and can boost their survival hopes by recording a win over a direct relegation rival.
Visiting boss Sean Dyche is hopeful that Vitalii Mykolenko, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Garner will be fit for Saturday following illness, while the signs are also good for James Tarkowski.
However, Jarrad Branthwaite (groin), Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (ankle), Youssef Chermiti (foot) and Armando Broja (Achilles) are all absent.
The stats
Leicester’s 2-2 at Selhurst Park was their second draw of the season after taking a point from Tottenham in the opening round of fixtures.
Despite leading 2-0 in both, Everton have lost their last two league games 3-2, becoming the first side in Premier League history to suffer that fate.
That has left them stranded on zero points. They have, however, won this season, beating Doncaster 3-0 in the Carabao Cup before losing to Southampton on Tuesday.
PREDICTIONS
Everton boss Dyche is the type of character to have taken the positives from their defeats to Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
However, spurning 2-0 leads against both sides will also worry the 53-year-old and despite making eight changes against Southampton, losing a penalty shootout will also have done little for the Merseysiders’ collective mentality.
While the world seems to be on Everton’s shoulders, Leicester look happy to play the underdog.
The hosts will see this game as the ideal chance to get their season going, with fixtures against Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich to come on the other side of next weekend’s trip to Arsenal.
The Toffees’ current plight means this game provides Cooper’s Foxes’ with a real chance to get their first league win.
They were generally excellent at home last term in the Championship and can break their Premier League duck here.