Football news - Jamie Vardy strikes as Leicester win at Everton to go seventh

Jamie Vardy struck the game’s only goal as Leicester City lifted themselves to seventh place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 away win over Everton.

Eyebrows were raised by Claude Puel’s conservative team selection, but the ploy paid off as the Foxes left Goodison Park with another impressive win following on from recent victories over Chelsea and Manchester City.

Everton came close to opening the scoring in the first half as Jonjo Kenny smashed the crossbar with a strike from the edge of the box. But besides this opportunity, the Toffees struggled to create scoring opportunities.

It was Leicester City who opened the scoring with what proved to be the decisive goal as Vardy got on the end of a Ricardo Pereira through ball to finish past Jordan Pickford. That was enough, ultimately, to give the Foxes the win.

Everton must buy a striker in the January window. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still young, and so deserves a certain degree of leeway, but the 21-year-old just doesn’t offer what Everton need in a centre-forward right now. The Toffees were toothless for much of the match. Cenk Tosun was introduced off the bench in the second half, but he too struggled to make an impression. Everton have quality, but it’s undermined by their lack of a true centre-forward. They must look to buy one in January.

Jonny Evans (Leicester City): Vardy grabbed the headlines with his second half winner, and head over heels celebration, but Jonny Evans was the best player on the pitch. The former Manchester United centre-back was formidable, repelling everything that Everton threw at him. This was Evans’ best performance in a Leicester City shirt and showed why he should he be starting more often.

Everton: Pickford 5, Digne 5, Zouma 6, Keane 4, Kenny 7, Gomes 5, Gueye 6, Richarlison 6, Sigurdsson 5, Walcott 5, Calvert-Lewin 5. Subs - Bernard 6, Tosun 5.

Leicester City: Schmeichel 5, Simpson 6, Evans 8, Maguire 7, Chilwell 7, Ndidi 6, Mendy 6, Choudhury 5, Ricardo 6, Ghezzal 5, Vardy 7. Subs - Albrighton 6, Gray 5.

21’ Off the crossbar! Inches away from being the opener for Everton! The ball ran for Kenny 20 yards out, with the full back lashing a strike towards goal. It beat Schmeichel, but not the woodwork!

58’ GOAL! Everton 0-1 Leicester City: A breakthrough! Out of nothing, Leicester City have the lead! Keane's mistake was pounced upon by Ricardo, who slotted through Vardy. He's had nothing all game long, but the striker makes no mistake in finishing low past Pickford.

85’ How did he miss? That should have been a second Leicester City goal. Maguire got on the end of a Chilwell freekick into the box, but from six yards out he side foots over the bar.