Dyche expresses the need for rectifying the issue with Everton's nemesis following their cup elimination.
Everton and Leicester City are set to face off this weekend, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net in the 2023-24 Premier League season.
In their last outing, Leicester drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring a penalty to share the spoils. The Foxes' open play xG per game was 0.76, one of the lowest in the league, indicating difficulty in creating quality scoring chances.
Everton, on the other hand, have failed to win any of their first five league games this season, a trend that continued in their match against Southampton. Although Everton had a higher expected goals (xG) total than Southampton (1.54 to 0.53), they managed the same number of shots on target (4).
Creativity has been particularly lacking for Everton, reflected in poor chance creation statistics. Jack Grealish, a player brought in to improve attacking output, managed only 1,004 minutes—less than half his previous season's playing time—and struggled to replicate his best form, producing just two assists in 29 hours of Premier League action in 2023-24.
Manager David Moyes has had to focus heavily on defensive solidity and controlling possession after rejoining Everton mid-season, steering them away from relegation with a more disciplined and possession-based style. However, attacking firepower remains insufficient, leading to investment in new forwards for future seasons.
Leicester, too, have had their fair share of goal-scoring issues. In their last game, they conceded goals in a way that did not typify their mentality. Nevertheless, Wilfried Ndidi, who has assisted three goals in his last two Premier League appearances, could be a player to watch for the Foxes.
Sean Dyche, Everton's manager, is concerned about his team's inability to score goals consistently. In contrast, Leicester's head coach, Steve Cooper, was pleased with his team's performance against Crystal Palace, particularly in the first half. However, Cooper was dissatisfied with the award of Palace's first goal due to a VAR decision.
The Opta win probability for Leicester is 38.5%, with a draw at 26.3% and Everton at 35.2%. In 16 of the 34 Premier League meetings between Leicester and Everton, the match has ended in a draw, the highest percentage for any fixture played 30+ times in the competition.
Both teams will be eager to break their goal-scoring drought when they meet this weekend. With new signings and tactical changes on the horizon, it promises to be an intriguing encounter.
In the upcoming fixture, both Everton and Leicester City, currently grappling with scoring goals in the 2023-24 Premier League season, will aim to change their fortunes. Everton's creative struggles, highlighted by Jack Grealish's provincial playing time and goal involvement, contrast with Leicester's Wilfried Ndidi who, despite Leicester's goal-scoring problems, has recently provided three assists in the Premier League.
