English champions Leicester City travelled to Everton on Sunday afternoon looking to win their sixth straight Premier League fixture.
Leicester trailed before leading 2-1 in the opening 10 minutes of action at Goodison Park, but headers from Romelu Lukaku and Phil Jagielka saw Everton boast a 3-2 advantage at the interval.
Lukaku then scored his second of the match to make it 4-2 in the 57th minute, and that was how it finished during a pulsating afternoon on Merseyside.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from Goodison Park, and it is a real cracker of an affair as Everton welcome the champions Leicester City, who have now won their last five in the league. Both teams will be looking for another three points this afternoon, which should set us up for an enthralling and entertaining game. Stay tuned for all of the action!
Everton recorded a 2-0 victory when they travelled to Leicester in December, but the Toffees have not actually done the league double over the Foxes since the 1986-87 campaign. Leicester's only Premier League win at Goodison Park, meanwhile, came last season in December 2015. Interestingly, 13 of the previous 21 Premier League contests between the two teams have finished level.
There have actually been 18 goals scored in the last five meetings between Everton and Leicester, suggesting that there will be goals this afternoon. Right, before we go any further, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Goodison Park. Any changes? Let's have a look...
TEAMS!
EVE: Joel; Holgate, Jagielka, Pennington, Baines; Davies, Schneiderlin, Gueye; Mirallas, Lukaku, Barkley
LEIC: Schmeichel; Amartey, Benalouane, Huth, Chilwell; Albrighton, King, Drinkwater, Gray; Slimani, Vardy
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has made two changes to the team that started against Manchester United last time out, with fit-again Morgan Schneiderlin replacing Gareth Barry, and Matthew Pennington coming in for Ashley Williams, who is suspended following his sending-off at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku again leads the line for the Toffees with support from Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas.
As for Leicester, Craig Shakespeare has rung the changes from his team's 2-0 win over Sunderland on Tuesday night. Daniel Amartey, Marc Albrighton, Islam Slimani, Andy King and Ben Chilwell all come into the XI, but Jamie Vardy and Daniel Drinkwater both keep their places. There is also another start for Yohan Benalouane as skipper Wes Morgan remains on the sidelines due to a back problem.
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So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon on Merseyside. I shall speak about Leicester and their incredible recent turnaround a little bit later, but let's start with the home side Everton. Ronald Koeman's side looked set to go sixth in the league when they led 1-0 at Manchester United in the latter stages of Tuesday's Premier League clash, but a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty ensured that it finished 1-1.
Everton entered the clash at Old Trafford off the back of a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool last weekend and although the last-gasp equaliser in Manchester would have been tough to take, it was a much-improved performance. Instead of rising to sixth, Everton remained seventh in the table, and they are now six points behind fifth-place Man United, who have just beaten basement side Sunderland.
Everton are seven points clear of eighth-place West Bromwich Albion, however, and therefore are well-placed for at least a top-seven finish. The Toffees have been excellent at Goodison Park this season – winning 10 of their 15 matches and suffering just one defeat. Indeed, only Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have performed better on home soil than Everton this term.
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Koeman will be slightly concerned about his team's away form, however, which has seen them win just four of their 16 matches, suffering seven defeats in the process. Tuesday was a big step in the right direction as they came close to upsetting Man United at Old Trafford, but they have lacked the wins away from home to really push them towards the Champions League positions.
In terms of what is ahead for the Toffees, they will welcome Burnley to Goodison Park in their next league match on April 15, before travelling to West Ham United and hosting Chelsea before the end of the month. Everton only have the Premier League to focus on in the final weeks of the season, which will give them the advantage over those above them featuring in other competitions.
As for Leicester, it has been some turnaround since Claudio Ranieri was sacked following the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash against Sevilla on February 22. They only won once in all competitions between January 14 and February 22, and that was a 3-1 victory over Derby in the FA Cup.
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There were genuine concerns that the champions could be relegated from the Premier League this season, but those fears have been allayed in recent weeks. Shakespeare is now the individual in charge of first-team affairs at Leicester, and the 53-year-old has had a quite remarkable start to his managerial career.
A 3-1 win over Liverpool on February 27 started things off, and the Foxes have won each of their five matches in all competitions since then. That includes a 2-0 victory over Europa League holders Sevilla in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash, which saw Shakespeare lead the team into the quarter-finals, where they will face Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.
The English champions made it five straight league victories when they recorded a 2-0 win at home to Sunderland on Tuesday night, and that result moved them into 11th position in the table. They are now eight points clear of the relegation zone and just one point off the top half of the division, which is an indication of how drastically things have changed since Ranieri left the King Power Stadium.
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In terms of what is ahead for Leicester, they will travel to Atletico on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, before travelling to Palace in the league next weekend. The second leg of their European quarter-final will then take place on April 18, before ending the month with league games against Arsenal (A) and West Brom (A).
Leicester's first away league win of the season came at West Ham on March 18, and they have lost 10 of their 14 away games during the 2016-17 campaign, which will be a concern for Shakespeare ahead of this match. The Foxes are absolutely flying at the moment, however, as they look to secure a top-half finish. It should be an open and entertaining clash from Goodison Park.
WARM UPS: We are nearly ready to go here at Goodison Park where #lcfc take on Everton in the Premier League. #EveLei pic.twitter.com/aVz9SgupTQ — Leicester City (@LCFC) April 9, 2017
KICKOFF! Leicester kick things off at Goodison Park...
... GOAL! Everton 1-0 Leicester (Davies)
Oh my word! Everton take the lead inside the first 30 seconds as Davies sweeps the ball into the bottom corner from inside the box after the referee had played a brilliant advantage to allow Amartey's rash challenge on Barkley to slide. What a start for the Toffees this afternoon!
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Leicester (Slimani)
Good grief! Leicester level the scores in the fourth minute as Gray breaks towards the Everton box before sliding a super pass into Slimani, who finishes through the legs of Joel. It is a brilliant counter-attack from the Premier League champions, and we are now all square at Goodison.
Hardly time to take a breath in this game at the moment as both teams continue to flood players forward. It is almost as if both managers have ignored the defensive part of this match and simply decided to attack. It has been a wonderful opening seven minutes to this Premier League fixture.
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Leicester (Albrighton)
Incredible, just incredible. Leicester take the lead at Goodison Park as Albrighton's free kick floats over the head of Joel and into the top corner. It is horrible from the Everton goalkeeper, who really should have dealt with the set piece. Three goals in the opening 10 minutes of this match.
I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals this afternoon as both teams continue to commit players forward. Goodison Park was rocking when Davies opened the scoring in the first minute, but the stadium has gone quiet since Leicester took the lead in the 10th minute.
SAVE! Smart save from Joel to keep out Gray's low strike.
As it stands, Leicester are moving above Watford into the top half of the Premier League table, which is incredible considering where they were when Ranieri was sacked. Everton, meanwhile, would remain in seventh position behind sixth-place Arsenal and fifth-place Manchester United.
There is a real tension inside the stadium at the moment, although Everton are currently the team on the front foot as they continue to enjoy possession in Leicester's half of the field at Goodison.
This match has still not settled, which is incredible 21 minutes into events. Usually a pattern would start to emerge after five or 10 minutes, but that has not been the case here. Still full-throttle stuff!
Lukaku cannot find Holgate inside the Leicester box as a positive move comes to a disappointing end for Everton. It is the Leicester supporters in full voice at the moment as they continue to enjoy this incredible recent run of form. Everything is going Shakespeare's way, that is for sure.
GOAL! Everton 2-2 Leicester (Lukaku)
Everton level in the 23rd minute as Barkley delivers a wonderful cross onto the head of Lukaku, who absolutely thumps his header past Schmeichel. Brilliant goal from the home side!
Well, 26 minutes on the clock and we are currently level at 2-2. It has been a wonderful game of football at Goodison Park, with two teams prepared to commit numbers forward whenever possible.
The handbags are out as Mirallas and Huth clash in a wide position!
BOOKINGS! Huth (Leicester) and Mirallas (Everton) are both booked following that altercation in a wide position. Lukaku came over to help his teammate out as well!
There is a real nervousness inside the stadium whenever Joel has the ball at his feet. The Spaniard has had a couple of difficult weeks in the Everton goal, although he made some super saves against Man United last time out. Still 2-2 as we approach the latter stages of the first period here.
Everton win a free kick in a dangerous position as Slimani brings Holgate to the deck...
... Barkley goes short to Mirallas, but Huth is on hand to make an important clearance.
Leicester are very deep at the moment as they resist the pressure from Everton, but the Foxes have such a threat on the counter-attack when Gray and Vardy have space to attack. Lukaku tries his luck from outside the box after working some space, but his effort is over the crossbar.
Barkley struggled at Liverpool and Man United in his last two Everton appearances, but the England international has been much better this afternoon. He is again involved in an attack for the home side, which ends with Gueye having a decent strike deflected wide of Schmeichel's post.
SAVE! Sensational goalkeeping from Schmeichel as the Leicester stopper somehow keeps out an effort from Barkley after initially being rounded by the midfielder. Wow!
GOAL! Everton 3-2 Leicester (Jagielka)
Everton lead 3-2 at Goodison Park as Jagielka heads a brilliant Mirallas corner into the back of the net. It has been an incredible first period on Merseyside, with the home side ahead once again.
Slimani looks to meet a cross from Amartey as Leicester threaten on the counter-attack, but Holgate just about does enough at the far post to prevent the big striker from making contact.
BOOKING! Baines (Everton) is booked for a late challenge on King.
We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the first period. Leicester are currently on the front foot as they threaten from a couple of set pieces in quick succession.
HALF-TIME: Everton 3-2 Leicester
So there we have it. The referee brings this incredible first period to a close with Everton leading Leicester 3-2 at the King Power Stadium. Leicester came from behind to lead 2-1 in the opening 10 minutes, but Lukaku headed Everton level, before Jagielka's header in the 41st minute saw the Toffees take a 3-2 lead. It has been full-throttle football at Goodison Park this afternoon.
STATISTICS! Everton have dominated the possession with 74%, while they have had five attempts - three of which were on target. Leicester, meanwhile, hit the target with all three of their attempts in the first period. Three yellows to report - Mirallas and Baines for Everton, and Huth for the visitors.
BENCH WATCH! Leicester boss Shakespeare has a number of attacking options on his bench this afternoon, with Mahrez, Musa and Ulloa all capable of making a difference in the second period. As for Everton, the likes of Barry, Enner Valencia and Lookman are available at Goodison Park.
RESTART! Everton resume the action on home soil...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the play develops in this second 45 minutes.
It has been a lively start to the second period, with Everton searching for their fourth of the afternoon. There are shouts for a penalty when Barkley goes down inside the Leicester box, but the referee is not interested. Surely we have not seen the last of the goals this afternoon.
Schmeichel saves from Mirallas, who tried his luck from outside the box.
Slimani's low effort is deflected wide of the post as Leicester look to threaten on the counter-attack once again. It is still a very open game of football despite Everton dominating possession of the ball.
You just get the feeling that the next goal this afternoon - if there indeed is one - will be vital. If Everton can score a fourth then surely Leicester's challenge would be up, but an equaliser and it would be very much game on at Goodison Park. Slight lull in proceedings in the last few minutes.
We are entering the stage of the match where both managers will be looking at their benches and considering the possibility of changes. I would be very surprised if this match finished 3-2 Everton as both teams continue to commit players forward. It has been a wonderful game of football.
GOAL! Everton 4-2 Leicester (Lukaku)
Everton score their fourth of the afternoon and Lukaku has his second as the Belgian striker smashes home from close range after Leicester failed to clear a corner from the left.
LEICESTER SUB! Mahrez and Musa replace Vardy and Gray for the away side.
Everton are far from finished this afternoon as they continue to commit players in the final third of the field. It really has been a wonderful game of football at Goodison Park.
BOOKING! King (Leicester) is booked for a poor challenge on Gueye.
It does appear that Leicester are heading for their first defeat under the management of Shakespeare, but it was always going to be a tough task for the visitors this afternoon.
Possession football for Leicester in the last few minutes as they pass and probe in the final third, but the visitors have struggled to threaten Joel in the second period. Still 20 minutes of football to play at Goodison Park, however, and therefore 20 minutes for Leicester to turn things around once again.
Smart defending from Pennington as the Everton centre-back deals with a dangerous cross from Albrighton, who had found space in a wide position. It appears that Barry will soon enter the action.
Barkley finds Lukaku inside the Leicester box and the Belgian looks to settle himself for a shot, but Huth is on hand to make a smart challenge. Still 4-2 Everton with 73 minutes on the clock here.
EVERTON SUB! Barry replaces Schneiderlin for Everton.
Little under 15 minutes of this Premier League clash remaining, and it is Everton that still lead 4-2. In truth, the game ended as a contest when Lukaku scored his second of the afternoon here.
LEICESTER SUB! Ulloa replaces Albrighton for the visitors.
Albrighton, Vardy and Gray are all expected to start for Leicester away to Atletico next week, and it is therefore not much of a surprise that all three have been withdrawn in the second period.
CHANCE! Ulloa meets a super cross from Mahrez inside the Everton box, but Gueye makes a brilliant block with his face! What an introduction that would have been!
Leicester have been much better in the last 10 minutes at Goodison Park, with Everton allowing the Foxes possession of the ball in dangerous positions. It is a dangerous tactic, although time is running out for the visitors in terms of turning this game around. Still 4-2 Everton at Goodison.
Little over five minutes of football remaining this afternoon.
What of Lukaku then? Flat-track bully? Well, he now has 23 Premier League goals this season, which is very impressive. There are still question marks over his performances against the bigger teams in the division, but his goal record has been excellent during his time at Goodison Park.
SAVE! Sensational goalkeeping from Joel to keep out Ulloa's close-range header!
Lukaku breaks into the Leicester box as he looks to complete his hat-trick, but the striker's effort is wide of the post. Still time for the Belgian to complete another Premier League treble here.
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90.
The Everton fans are in fine voice as we approach the final moments here.
FULL-TIME: Everton 4-2 Leicester
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Everton recording a 4-2 win over Leicester at Goodison Park. Everton stay seventh, but they are now level on points with sixth-place Arsenal. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live action once again!
