Steve Cooper faces some tough decisions after his Leicester City side managed a disappointing draw at home against Everton.
The performance was particularly frustrating, especially since Everton had not earned any Premier League points before this match. Everton took an early lead with Iliman Ndiaye scoring after creating space for himself, while Leicester struggled to break through a resolute Everton defense in poor weather conditions.
Leicester eventually equalized when Stephy Mavididi netted his second goal in as many games from a Harry Winks corner, marking a successful return to the team.
Jordan Ayew may be at risk of losing his spot in the lineup. The 33-year-old attacker was signed from Crystal Palace for an initial £5 million, a move that didn’t excite many Leicester fans. Ayew hasn’t scored more than four goals in a Premier League season for the past four years, yet his experience and versatility are valued by Cooper.
Despite starting in Leicester’s last three league matches, Ayew had a frustrating outing against Everton, failing to make an impact and surprisingly remaining on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes. According to Sofascore, he completed only 14 out of 18 passes, made no key passes, missed all four of his crosses, and lost possession 12 times. Playing on the right wing, he registered just 0.09 expected goals and 0.01 expected assists.
Looking ahead to their next match, Leicester faces Walsall in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday before a challenging fixture against Arsenal on Saturday. Given the need to absorb pressure against the Gunners, Abdul Fatawu should replace Ayew in the starting lineup. Fatawu’s pace and work ethic would provide Leicester with a counter-attacking threat that could be vital in that match.
While Ayew will still play a role this season, his performance against Everton suggests it may be time for him to sit out until he can earn his place back in the team.
