Paul Merson predicts Everton showdown v Leicester City in Premier League relegation battle
Paul Merson predicts Everton to be plunged into uncertainty by backing Leicester City to win 2-1 against them at the King Power Stadium on Monday.
Everton’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at Goodison Park on Thursday means they go into their bottom-three showdown with the Foxes in 19th place and two points shy of safety.
Leicester are one point above the Toffees but have picked up four points from their last two Premier League outings.
Merson doesn’t see Everton winning again this season, predicting that whoever loses this game will be relegated to the Championship.
And according to the Sky Sports pundit – it’ll be the Blues.
“This is an absolutely humongous game in the relegation battle. It’s the biggest game of the weekend for me. Leicester City have done decently in recent weeks. They beat Wolves last weekend and drew with Leeds United in midweek,” Merson wrote on the Sportskeeda website.
“They should win this one and if they win this one, they will go four points clear of Everton. The Goodies have a very difficult set of fixtures coming up and Leicester should be able to make home advantage count on Monday night when the two sides lock horns.
“I saw Everton play out a goalless draw last week at Crystal Palace and I think the only way they have a chance of survival is if they play for a draw in each of their remaining games.
“I don’t see them winning another football match this season. Whoever loses this game might as well turn the lights off because the season is as good as over for them.”
No surprise
We can totally see why Merson would say what he’s said about Everton because unfortunately, we agree.
Most Blues fans are likely to feel the same way too because Sean Dyche’s side was absolutely horrific against Newcastle on Thursday night.
Leicester have picked up a bit of a head of steam in their last two games under Dean Smith and with players like James Maddison and Harvey Barnes playing behind a Jamie Vardy who came off the bench to score at Leeds this week, they have an attack force that’ll frighten the life out of our defence.
Burnley defended like lions under Dyche but this lot are a bunch of kittens in comparison, even though he had a few of them at Turf Moor.
Frank Lampard coached them into oblivion before he was sacked and now we’re paying the cost because the players at the other end of the pitch are absolutely woeful.
If we lose this, we’re definitely done for.