Harvey Barnes tries to release Jamie Vardy, doing what Vardy does - sprinting into the channel, but there's too much zip on the pass and it goes harmlessly out.

Here we go at an electric King Power Stadium.

Image source, PA Media

A reminder of the teams selected by Dean Smith and Sean Dyche...

Leicester XI: Iversen, Castagne, Faes, Soyuncu, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Soumare, Barnes, Maddison, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Souttar, Kristiansen, Amartey, Daka, Dewsbury-Hall, Mendy, Praet, Tete.

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Doucoure, Iwobi, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Begovic, Patterson, Davies, Coady, Mina, Onana, Sims, Gray, Maupay.

Following their 2-0 win at Goodison Park in November, Leicester are looking to complete the Premier League double over Everton for just the second time, previously doing so in their 2015-16 title winning campaign.

Everton are winless in their last 12 Premier League away games (drew five, lost seven), failing to score on nine separate occasions in that run. Since beating Brighton 2-0 in August 2021, they've won just two of their last 33 away league games (drawn 10, lost 21), with all three of their clean sheets in that run coming in 0-0 draws.

Leicester City

Leicester manager Dean Smith talking to Sky Sports: "It's an opportunity for both of us. We know how big the game is but we just need to go and play the game.

"We know Everton are fighting for points as much as ourselves. We haven't changed the approach."

"I feel the problem goes right back to a very rash decision in the summer - letting Kasper Schmeichel go," former Brighton striker Glenn Murray said.

"He's a top goalkeeper and he's an organiser, he's always vocal and organising.

"To let a player of his stature - on the field and in the changing room - leave the club and not replace him, that's where the trouble started."

It isn't quite winner takes all, but it is close, as Leicester host Everton tonight in a huge fight for top-flight survival.

The Foxes are 18th, one place and one point above the Toffees. A win for either team takes them out of the relegation zone and will be a big step towards safety.

"I think this game is absolutely massive," said former Arsenal and Everton defender Martin Keown on Football Focus.

"Whoever loses that goes down. When you look at the fixtures both teams have to play, it's getting quite tough."

Everton

Everton beat Arsenal and Leeds in two of Sean Dyche's first three games following his appointment on 30 January but they have won just one of the 10 games since then.

Asked why his side's form has declined, Dyche said: "Nerves, tension, focus, build-up to games.

"There have been injuries, suspensions, different players coming in and out the side, all those things go into that.

"You are looking to work through those periods when the challenges come. Like we did at Chelsea and Tottenham, we got good points.

"I spoke to the players in the week about the ongoing mentality about performing. At this stage of the season, it comes down to will, demand and mentality to take games on."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Amadou Onana misses out through illness and is only fit enough to be on the bench.

What a blow that is for Everton, the Belgium international has been one of the rare bright sparks in a very dull season for the Toffees.

Should they go down, big clubs will be lining up to sign the 21-year-old, who was linked with Arsenal in January.

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Schumacher has led his Plymouth side into the Championship and could seal the League One title with victory on Sunday.

But will they be facing his boyhood club Everton next season?

The Plymouth boss certainly hopes they won't.

"It's scary," he told Sky Sports News. "I can't bring myself to think Everton could get relegated.

"I am a diehard Everton fan so I am not looking forward to watching the game tonight at Leicester.

"It's a huge game, but I do feel we will get out of it because we are Everton and that is what Everton do."

James Maddison has praised Dean Smith’s impact at Leicester.

The Foxes slipped back into the drop zone this week but have taken four points from their last two games.

Smith replaced Brendan Rodgers until the end of the season earlier this month and, after losing his opening game 3-1 at Manchester City, has beaten Wolves and drawn at Leeds.

“It’s definitely given us a lift and helped that side of things,” the playmaker told the club’s official site. “When you have a new manager, it’s a new voice, new messages and so everyone’s on it.

“The gaffer’s been in three games; we had a tight game against Man City but, as we just saw against Arsenal, they can blow anyone away and we maybe could’ve even got something up until towards the end of that game.

“But that was never going to be a defining moment in the season because not many teams go to the Etihad and win. But then obviously winning at home and then not losing away, which was something we’d been doing lately, was important.

“There has been a real uplift in confidence and belief and hopefully that will leave us in good stead so we can produce another positive performance and result against Everton.

“We haven’t given the crowd enough to cheer and shout about this season so we understand the frustrations, especially when we go behind. I always say it’s so important and massive for us if the crowd can stick with us, even in the tougher times."

Leicester City

Leicester boss Dean Smith says all the players have bought into the battle for survival, regardless of whether they are contracted to the club beyond this summer or not.

"I'm getting that feeling from all the players," he said. "They're all in and they've committed to the football club, whether their contract is up at the end of the season or not.

"I can just see a buy-in from what they're doing in training and what they're saying in the meetings.

"Contracts are not my department. My remit is to come in and keep the team in the Premier League, so that's what I'm focused on."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked who you thought was going to win the game, with thumbs up representing Leicester (as they are the home team) with thumbs down for Everton.

It's clear that the majority are expecting the hosts to get the three points tonight.

Image source, .

BBC Sport visited Liverpool to sample the mood among Everton fans and followers, as the nine-time league champions prepare to move to a new stadium while trying to maintain their Premier League status.

This video was first published in March 2023.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Everton have endured a miserable 2023.

With five matches remaining of the season, the threat of relegation from the Premier League again looms large for Sean Dyche's side - just 12 months after Frank Lampard and a raucous Goodison crowd saved them from the same fate.

This campaign has been a struggle both on and off the pitch, and the Toffees, who are 19th, face a huge Premier League basement battle at Leicester City.

Dropping into the Championship would be catastrophic for both clubs but especially Everton, having posted losses of more than £430m over the past five years and with their new stadium on Bramley Moore Dock being built but in need of financing.

They are also awaiting news of any potential sanctions after being referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of financial fair play rules, with the club "prepared to robustly defend" their position.

And to add to the toxicity and uncertainty around the Merseyside club, a civil war has erupted between the Everton board and disgruntled supporters, who feel chairman Bill Kenwright is not up to the job and owner Farhad Moshiri has squandered much of the £750m he has invested.

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