In match week 5 of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Leicester City hosted Everton at the King Power Stadium. The match ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with both teams having their moments but unable to find a winner. It was a tactical battle where the match tempo ebbed and flowed, and the stats highlight just how even this contest was. Everton took an early lead through Iliman Ndiaye, whose sharp finish in the 12th minute (xG: 0.28) set the tone for an aggressive start by the visitors. Leicester, however, refused to back down and continued to push Everton back, eventually finding their equalizer in the 73rd minute courtesy of Stephy Mavididi (xG: 0.58). The match remained balanced, with each team creating opportunities, but neither could secure all three points.

Important Stats Breakdown:

Leicester City’s xG for the match stood at 1.74, while Everton’s xG was slightly behind at 1.62, showcasing how both sides were evenly matched in terms of chances created. Everton managed to take 12 shots in total, with only 3 of them on target, while Leicester City had 11 attempts with 2 on target. Both teams were well organized in defense, blocking numerous shots—Leicester blocked 3 while Everton blocked 4.

Interestingly, Everton dominated in terms of progressive runs (37 to Leicester’s 22), showing their willingness to drive forward. Meanwhile, Leicester had better control over possession with 55%, compared to Everton’s 45%, and a longer pure possession time of 26:42 minutes.

Match Momentum and Possession:

The momentum of the game swung back and forth, but Leicester City took control in the latter stages of the second half, leading up to their equalizer. The cumulative xG graph reflects this momentum shift, with Leicester’s chances increasing significantly after the 60th minute. Everton started brightly but struggled to create high-quality opportunities after Ndiaye’s goal.

Passing:

Everton’s pass map reveals a more conservative, structured build-up with central midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré at the heart of their possession play. Dominic Calvert-Lewin often found himself isolated in attack, which limited Everton’s ability to maintain pressure in Leicester’s half. Their passes generally stayed within the defensive and midfield lines, with less emphasis on penetrating runs into the final third.

Everton relied on direct counter-attacks and quick transitions, but their lack of penetration in the final third was evident. They connected well between their defenders and midfielders, but struggled to find Calvert-Lewin in dangerous positions often enough to maintain attacking pressure. Their possession was more reactive, designed to absorb pressure and strike back when Leicester left gaps.

Leicester City, on the other hand, had a more fluid and direct passing approach. Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Winks formed a solid partnership in the middle, dictating play. Their pass map shows clear connections between the defensive line and their midfield pivot, with Kristiansen and Mavididi providing width on the left side. The direct ball movement to Jamie Vardy also illustrates Leicester’s more vertical play style in attack.

Leicester’s possession strategy involved a lot of patience in build-up play, utilizing the width of the pitch and switching sides frequently. This is seen in their pass map, where there is a strong connection between their full-backs Kristiansen and Justin, as well as with Vardy up front. They often looked to stretch Everton’s defensive shape and exploit spaces between the lines.

Shots Taken and Shot Maps:

Everton’s shot map shows a spread of efforts from outside the box, with just one of their 12 attempts leading to a goal. Their on-target shots came primarily from central areas, but many were from low-probability positions, reflected in their combined xG of 1.62.

Leicester’s shot map indicates they were more efficient with their chances. Their equalizing goal from Mavididi came from a high xG opportunity in the box, but they also missed some clear-cut chances to take the lead. Their xG per shot was higher (0.158) compared to Everton’s (0.135), illustrating Leicester’s ability to carve out better-quality chances, even if they had fewer shots.

This was a balanced encounter where both teams showed flashes of quality, but ultimately lacked the cutting edge to secure the win. Everton will be pleased with their solid defensive performance and Ndiaye’s sharp early strike, but Leicester can feel confident moving forward, knowing they can control games and generate quality chances. A point each feels like a fair outcome, but both teams will be looking to sharpen their attacking play as the season progresses.