Leeds United vs Everton: Preview and Predicted Lineups | OneFootball

Everton will kick off a new era with a trip to Elland Road to take on newly-promoted Leeds United on Monday.

Pre-season has been less than desirable for the Toffees, culminating in the 1-0 defeat to AS Roma at a sold-out Hill Dickinson Stadium. Their only win during this period was a 2-1 victory over Port Vale behind closed doors.

Business has also only recently started to pick up after the much-needed addition of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. The squad still needs pace and trickery on the right flank and David Moyes might have to settle for a signing towards the closing stages of the window.

In the 18 previous occasions where Everton have begun their league season against a newly-promoted club, they have only won twice, and on the two occasions when that has been against Leeds, they lost both. They’ve also lost the opening fixture in each of the last three Premier League seasons.

However, Moyes will be pointing out to his players the fact that they ended last season with 31 points in their final 18 Premier League matches, and despite the shortcomings in the squad, the players can still pack a punch.

Leeds United vs Everton - Preview and Predicted Lineups

Everton Team News

Jarrad Branthwaite will be the biggest name missing on Everton’s team sheet after the young centre-back picked up an injury in training. It comes as a major blow to the side, given Branthwaite’s appearance in the final pre-season friendly against Roma was his return from another injury.

James Tarkowski is back, though, and he’s expected to count on Michael Keane as his partner in defence.

Vitalii Mykolenko limped off the pitch after 10 minutes against Roma, but it seems that the Ukrainian left-back might be fit to appear in some capacity.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Adam Aznou and Jack Grealish could secure their competitive debuts for Everton, and it will be interesting to see where Grealish is deployed should Moyes hand him a start against Leeds United.

Thierno Barry, however, might have to come off the bench as Beto is expected to lead the line here.

Everton predicted starting XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Aznou; Gueye, Garner; Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Grealish; Beto

When is Leeds United vs Everton?

Everton will begin their Premier League 2025/26 season against Leeds United on Monday, August 18. Kick-off is scheduled at 8:00 pm BST.

Where to watch Leeds United vs Everton?

The Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League for viewers in the UK.

The match will also be available online on Sky Go, on the Sky Sports app and via Now TV’s Sports membership.

Reader Comments (10)

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We're still dithering in the market. KDH looks the only decent PL-ready player we've brought in. Grealish, perhaps, time will tell if he gets his mojo back. There's still so many gaps and our season starts tomorrow. Then there's the lame ducks we have up front, Beto, Chermiti. So our hopes are riding on young Barry. What's another year ?

Phil Bickerstaff 2 Posted 17/08/2025 at 11:46:31

Lewis, McAtee and Hutchinson all gone to Forrest.three of the best youngsters in the premiership and three we wanted.Wtf are they doing at Everton Oh sorry we signed a third pick keeper and a 18 year old for the reserves who will never be seen againLong season awaits

Derek Knox 3 Posted 17/08/2025 at 11:49:41

Pat K, not so much dithering, as most targets we have gone for, are in high demand, and have chosen elsewhere, mostly Clubs involved in Euro Comps. While we definitely need more players for sure, we must recruit wisely and not just get some in just to make the numbers up.

Many players are going for ridiculous Fees, which are not commensurate with their ability imho. It will be interesting to see some we have been linked with, if they justify their Fee, flourish or fail !

Tommy Carter 4 Posted 17/08/2025 at 11:52:35

McAtee and Hutchinson are 2 targets I hope we were seriously in for. I do think Moyes should name specifically the targets we have missed out on and have made this point before. If players are turning us down in favour of other clubs, name them. Then we all know where we stand.

Looks like the Dibling deal is moving further away from us as he takes a place on the bench today.

Ian Bennett 5 Posted 17/08/2025 at 11:57:56

Dibbling on the bench for saints, Fofana played a full game for lyon yesterday. Fatawu played a full game.

Mcatee is going forest, so you can forget that one Tommy.

I still think it will be one of Fofana, Fatawu or Dibbling.

Jake FitzGerald 6 Posted 17/08/2025 at 11:59:27

What purpose does naming players who have “turned us down” again, Tommy?Do you think that players agents phone every club that’s interested in them to notify them that they’ve been “ditched” and then triumphantly announce their new beau club?That’s not how player negotiations work.

Clive Rogers 7 Posted 17/08/2025 at 12:03:41

The big worry is scoring goals. Barry has potential but doesn’t look ready at present while Beto hasn’t scored for quite a while. None in pre season and his hold up play was poor. Priorities are a Winger and a proven striker now.

Grant Rorrison 8 Posted 17/08/2025 at 12:05:37

It wont be Fofana. He's not interested in coming here. It wont be Dybling unless someone changes their stance on his value. Nobody know's how much Leicester want for Fatawu. Unless it's silly money, I'd just pay it. Easily the best option.

Tommy Carter 9 Posted 17/08/2025 at 12:10:30

The purpose is to reassure the fans of who our serious targets were prior to them opting to go elsewhere.

I think it serves a valuable purpose. Such as when Kendall left because he wanted to sign Dion Dublin and the board refused to sanction it. And likewise with Joe Royle with Tore Andre Flo.

Royle and Kendall both went public and then the fans knew where we stood and what the barriers to progress were.

All we hear now is Moyes owning about not getting the players who he wants. Well who are they? And his implication is that it’s an everyone else but him stopping it from happening. Is this the case? Are the people behind the scenes to blame? Or are players just selecting preferred alternatives.

I’d like to know. I’d certainly like to know if players are choosing Forest, Bournemouth, Brighton etc ahead of Everton.

I certainly remember it being helpful to me as a supporter in 1995 knowing that we were actively trying to sign Collymore and Chris Armstrong because it gave me an indication of what direction the club were looking to go in. We never got those deals done either but I found the information helpful. Likewise the following summer when we declared interest in Alan Shearer. It was never going to happen. The following summer Ravanelli. Again. Didn’t happen but at least we didn’t have managers moaning about faceless and nameless transfers not being done.

I think we're significantly less than we were last season at the moment. If we bring in Dibling that changes things, but that's by no means guaranteed with these top gun recruiters from the Championship running the show. We've got no right winger, and no Jarrad or Doucoure. obv Doucoure is a hard watch, but he was absolutely key to the way we set up. We didn't do much with the ball, but we sat in and made things v difficult for the other side. How many times did we knock the momentum out of the other team and then grab a goal and the points last season? That won't be the case now, teams can play through us now as evidenced by our preseason games. Hopefully 'Grealish settles but I'm not expecting anything significant for at least a month til he gets match fit. I'm also worried about the form of Beto Alcaraz and McNeil. I was hoping they'd show a lot more than they have. Let's hope it's all right on the night, but Leeds look like a tough nut (what a surprise).