England playmaker James Maddison admits Leicester City and Everton have underperformed this season as those two sides prepare to collide in the Premier League relegation scrap.
With five matches remaining, Leicester - for whom Maddison has been their main performer with nine goals and seven assists - and Everton are locked in the bottom three. However, victory for either team on Monday night at the King Power would see them move above Nottingham Forest.
However, even in that scenario there is no guaranteed escape with only six points separating five clubs from Leeds United downwards in 16th position.
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Addressing the relegation battle before Monday night, Maddison told the LCFC programme: "Teams at the bottom, we're all fighting and battling for Premier League safety and they'll [Everton] be looking to put that right [against Leicester].
"We all know their manager [Sean Dyche] and the characteristics he has. He'll be looking for a reaction and getting them going.
"So make no mistake about it, this is a massive game. There's no point in dressing it up as anything else."
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Maddison, 26, added: "Both clubs will feel like they've underperformed and feel they've not been at the level they think they're at. Everton were kind of in a relegation battle last year as well and Frank Lampard managed to keep them up, so they know what it's like to be in this situation.
"For us, it's a little bit new because we've had so much success over the past few years. Last season we had people saying it was probably a bit of an off season for us and we finished eighth place - what I'd do to be in that position now!
"Both are big clubs in a similar position and they don't want to be where they are, but the reality is the reality and we have to try and get a good result."
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