Leicester 0-2 Everton: Instant Reaction | The Toffees are on the rise

Everton are back!

The Toffees have made it back-to-back wins in the space of a week, with a fantastic 2-0 win at Leicester City, lifting them up to fifth in the Premier League.

Richarlison set them on their way with a strike from distance in the first half, with Mason Holgate’s first Premier League goals sealing the win after the break.

It was another professional performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who restricted Leicester to a handful of opportunities and they never really looked like getting back into the game once Everton had extended their lead.

Ancelotti wanted his side to tighten up defensively and they have done just that. It now gives them crucial momentum going into the festive period, with struggling Arsenal next before that huge cup tie against Manchester United.

Carlo Ancelotti made just once change from the Chelsea game with Robin Olsen coming in for Jordan Pickford. Ancelotti confirmed pre-match that it was simply a case of squad rotation rather than injury or form related.

Everton began like they did at the weekend, looking solid at the back while trying to hit on the counter.

The only opportunity in the opening stages was a low shot from distance by Youri Tielemans that went just wide.

Richarlison cut a frustrated figure early on, it was clear referee Lee Mason was not going to award him any free-kicks, even when he looked to have been legitimately fouled.

Then, out of nothing, he went and scored, cutting in from the right and firing in a shot that Kasper Schmeichel should have kept out.

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That goal immediately triggered a period of intense Leicester pressure, with Jamie Vardy heading straight at Olsen before Cengiz Under saw a deflected long-range effort loop just wide.

The Toffees rode out that spell and had another chance from a corner, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header was straight a Schmeichel.

Evertonians were probably feeling pretty happy with life at that stage, but we can never have too much of a good thing can we?

Allan, who had a superb game up to that point, pulled up after pulling his hamstring and immediately signalled to come off. It was a huge blow given his importance to the way the team plays. Andre Gomes came on in his place.

Leicester much brighter at the start of the second period, but Everton’s defence was once again in defiant mood, restricting the Foxes to efforts from distance.

Schmeichel made a great double save from Yerry Mina and Calvert-Lewin, but Holgate was there to slam home the rebound to get a vita second.

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Leicester thought they had a penalty when Andre Gomes needlessly tripped Ayoze Perez in the box. It looked a spot-kick on first look, but replays showed Gomes had made the faintest touch on the ball.

Perez then had the ball in the net after Vardy flicked on a corner, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.