Leeds United v Everton: Key stats and talking points
- Published
Leeds United return to the Premier League for the first time in three years to take on an Everton side hoping to kick on after an impressive end to last season following the return of David Moyes. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of the opener.
Can Leeds play the same attacking football in Premier League?
Leeds begin the Premier League campaign facing the perennial challenge of a promoted club – will the style of play that earned them promotion from the Championship sustain their challenge in the Premier League?
Daniel Farke's side were attacking and aggressive in the second tier in 2024-25, scoring more goals than any other club.
They also boasted the most possession and were the most effective at pressing opponents high up the pitch, while only Burnley, with the boon of Manchester City signing James Trafford, kept more clean sheets.
Leeds gamble on Calvert-Lewin and Everton lose Branthwaite
Despite Leeds' success last season, Farke has spoken of the need for more Premier League quality in his squad. Everton fans may have afforded themselves a wry smile when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was announced as the Elland Road club's eighth summer signing earlier this week as a free agent, after turning down a contract extension with the Toffees.
The 28-year-old had reportedly been pushing for a move to Manchester United before sacking his agent and his signing is a fascinating one for Leeds.
The injury-plagued Patrick Bamford failed to start a Championship match last season, making 17 appearances as a substitute, and in Calvert-Lewin Leeds have recruited a similar profile of player with a similarly questionable fitness record.
He missed three months of last season and has not scored more than seven Premier League goals in any of the past four campaigns.
Statistically, Calvert-Lewin can be considered the worst finisher of any forward in the top flight. Since the start of 2022-23, he has scored just 12 goals in total from an xG of 25.7 – the biggest under performance of any player during this period (-13.7). Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is second on this list at -8.5.
However, the fact Calvert-Lewin was offered a new deal by Everton shows he retains value as an effective lone target man and he is capable of occupying defenders – particularly with Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite injured.
The Toffees have won just three of 13 Premier League fixtures (D3, L7) without Branthwaite starting since his debut in 2022-23.
Farke, though, must find a new way in the Premier League. Even if Leeds beat Everton on Monday night in his 50th match in the competition, he would have the lowest win rate of any manager to reach this milestone.
He has won only six of 49 so far.
Will Grealish make Everton debut?
Leeds may also have to contend with Everton's own new attacking threat should loanee Jack Grealish start.
The Blues' sixth summer signing is a marquee one following long-term discussions with Manchester City and such was Jordan Pickford's desire to help get the deal over the line, he was calling his England team-mate from the golf course to check if the move had gone through.
Indeed, Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce picked Grealish as one of his players to watch this campaign. "He remains one of the gifted players and most intriguing personalities in a game that needs characters. It's unfathomable how badly his career stalled at Manchester City," Pearce told BBC Sport.
"But in David Moyes, he has a manager who will believe in his mercurial talents and Everton fans love a crowd pleaser. Whether he plays off the left or in the number 10 role, I believe he'll relish the chance to reignite his career in this loan spell and win his England place back."
Everton's biggest issue last season was scoring goals from open play – they managed just 25 in the Premier League in 2024-25, ranking them 18th of all clubs. Only relegated Southampton and Leicester City scored fewer.
Creativity could also be increased by the £24m signing of midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, while Everton have also paid Villarreal £27.5m for Thierno Barry.
The 6ft 5in striker was in an elite group of players aged under 23 to score 10 or more goals in Europe's top five leagues last season, sitting alongside the likes of new Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko, Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola and Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike.