Sutton's predictions: Leeds United v Evertonpublished at 09:48 18 August
09:48 18 August
Leeds boss Daniel Farke is a very underrated manager and his teams always carry a threat, but it is their defence I'm worried about this season.
They will have a real go at Everton under the floodlights and Elland Road is going to be rocking, so this is a tough opening for the Toffees.
I feel sorry for Everton boss David Moyes because he overachieved so much when he took over in January.
That has increased expectation for this season but, although they have managed to bring in Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry, Moyes has not been able to strengthen his squad in the way he wanted.
One of the players who left Everton this summer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, officially joined Leeds last week.
We know there is a talent in there, he has just had so many injuries. If Calvert-Lewin is able to play, it would not surprise me at all if he scores and gets his new team a point against his old one - wouldn't that be typical?
Two Everton players to watch out for this seasonpublished at 07:48 18 August
07:48 18 August
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked two Everton players who will be worth watching out for in the next few months.
Thierno Barry
Age: 22 Position: Striker Country: France
Guy Mowbray: Having checked his numbers and seen a few clips online, I'm really hoping he can make a big - and quick - impact for Everton.
He'll be raw certainly, but the talent is undoubtedly there for David Moyes to work with.
It's about time Everton had a strong centre-forward who can consistently deliver again. Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Andy Gray, Duncan Ferguson... Thierno Barry?
And if he doesn't fire - how about Beto to step up as a bit of a wildcard himself?!
Harrison Armstrong
Age: 18 Position: Midfield Country: England
Steve Bower: Given Everton's frustrations in the summer market, Blues fans are hoping one of their own has an opportunity to make an impact.
I saw Harrison Armstrong start at Goodison in the FA Cup win over Peterborough in January before a productive loan spell in the Championship with Derby County. Still only 18, he offers versatility in the attacking positions.
He'll have to be patient, but he'll be hoping to follow the likes of Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon in taking his opportunity when it arises.
Leeds United v Everton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:38 17 August
12:38 17 August
Matthew Hobbs - BBC Sport Journalist
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.
Moyes wants Lingard-esque revival for Grealishpublished at 13:58 16 August
13:58 16 August
Image source, Getty Images
Four years ago, Jesse Lingard fell out of favour at Manchester United and was snapped up on loan by then-West Ham boss David Moyes.
The results were spectacular, nine goals and five assists in just 16 appearances for the Hammers.
At his opening news conference for the Premier League season, Moyes says he hopes new signing Jack Grealish can mirror that success.
"He looks the same - big calves!" Moyes said on the England international. "You will have to turn up on Monday [to see if he will be involved against Leeds].
"The best example I can think of is when I brought Jesse Lingard to West Ham. He was probably not expected to be too successful, and maybe a little bit worn down, but he got himself back into the England team.
"If Jack can do a bit of the Jesse Lingard, it will be a great story. It is a World Cup year and he is in good enough shape. I just need to get him enough time."
The 29 year-old arrives at the Hill Dickinson stadium on loan - with an option to make the move permanent next summer.
Moyes believes the forward can prove a solution in a number of areas on the pitch for his new side, as long as he is given the opportunity.
"I think Jack can play in several positions, as a midfielder [as well as a winger]," Moyes added.
"My aim is to get Jack in a creative postion where he can score and assist goals. It is a big challenge for Jack and I am looking forward to seeing how he responds to it."
Moyes on Branthwaite injury, Beto and failed transfer pursuitspublished at 15:28 15 August
15:28 15 August
Josh Lobley BBC Sport Journalist
Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Leeds at Elland Road (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Moyes confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite is unavailable after picking up an injury in training.
He didn't give a time frame for his recovery but criticised the fact this news was leaked: "We've got to find out who is giving that news out [the rumours of Branthwaite's injury]. I am unhappy with it and I think all managers don't like it. It's coming from inside the building and we will find out."
He gave an assessment on the Toffees' transfer window: "We are pleased with the players we have added, but I am not pleased because I think I still need more. We want to continue to adding to what we have because we are short in certain areas."
On new signing Jack Grealish: "I think Jack can play in several positions, as a midfielder [as well as a winger]. My aim is to get Jack in a creative postion where he can score and assist goals. It is a big challenge for Jack and I am looking forward to seeing how he responds to it."
On the pursuit of Southampton forward Tyler Dibling: "Getting deals done has been really difficult. You just mentioned [Tyler] Dibling, but we have bid for many other player but not quite got it over the line."
A journalist asked Moyes about his recent criticism of forward Beto: "I would say that I want more goals from my centre-forwards and we have not scored enough in pre-season. We want him to score more goals. Beto wasn't getting a game when I came in but he went on to be a star for us last season."
On the competition provided by new striker Thierno Barry: "Barry is pushing him close but we have to ease him in and make sure we aren't expecting too much from a young centre-forward.
Grealish asked me about the number 18 shirt - Rooneypublished at 10:10 15 August
10:10 15 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Everton and Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney believes Jack Grealish is a great acquisition by the Merseyside club.
Speaking on the BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England great thinks David Moyes has signed a motivated Grealish, who will be focused to do well at the club during his season.
"It is a great signing for both," Rooney said. "For Everton, I think it was a really clever move getting Moyes back in – he knows the club and the values of the club and I think we are starting to see with the team he is putting together.
"Jack is a player who can be the difference. He has struggled for game time this last year, lost his place in the England squad. Everton have got him at this time where he is almost in a position where he needs to go prove himself again and I think it is a great signing.
"I went for dinner and saw him - we spoke about the number 18 shirt. He said there was eight and 18 available and he said he remembered Paul Gascoigne took it and then I took it.
"He took that and it is great and I spoke about the values of the club. Everton is a club where the fans expect and demand hard work from the players. There is no doubt Jack will do that but then he has the quality on top of that which will make him a fans' favourite."
Summer signings bolster slim Everton squadpublished at 09:01 15 August
09:01 15 August
We have looked into the age profile of Everton's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.
For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.
The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.
It is a new dawn for the Blues as they enter the Premier League season in a new stadium.
Having battled through a turbulent time with relegation battles, points deductions and change in ownership, fresh faces for the new era are starting to arrive.
It is something they have needed too, with an already slim squad trimmed down even further with seven exits from last season's Premier League squad.
Three of those players appeared participated in more than 50% of the team's minutes too, a sizeable hole for the recruitment squad to fill.
However, this summer's signings are skewing younger, bringing down the age of David Moyes' side and potentially providing a new impetus.
Where will Everton finish this season?published at 12:02 14 August
12:02 14 August
BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:
12) Everton
Last season: 13th
Everton enter a new era at a magnificent stadium under owners the Friedkin Group and with returning manager David Moyes hoping to build on the revival he inspired in the second half of last term.
Grealish has plenty to prove and a World Cup to aim for. Have Everton pulled off a masterstroke?
It was also a statement of intent that defender Jarrad Branthwaite was given a new, long-term contract. He will be vital, as he was last season, along with defensive partner James Tarkowski and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry is a work in progress and may not start, so much now depends on the final two weeks of the transfer window, with right-back still a weakness, and central midfield needing to be bolstered.
Everton have freshest squad for new seasonpublished at 10:36 14 August
10:36 14 August
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
The freshest team this season in the Premier League should be Everton.
The players in Everton's current squad played an average of just 1,847 minutes of football last season - the equivalent of about 21 full games.
Only one player - 35-year-old Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye - played more than 4,000 minutes (44 full games).
Only West Ham played fewer games last season than Everton among the current Premier League clubs, as both teams were knocked out of both domestic cups early.
Gossip: Southampton send Everton second counter-offer over Diblingpublished at 07:45 14 August
07:45 14 August
Southampton have made a second counter-offer to Everton about forward Tyler Dibling after rejecting three bids from the Toffees for the 19-year-old England Under-21s winger. (Florian Plettenberg), external
What do you want to know about Everton?published at 16:47 13 August
16:47 13 August
Have you got a question about Everton or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a Blues theme or trend that needs further investigation?
Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.
Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.
No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.
'The city of Liverpool may just start to turn a shade blue!' Fans on Grealishpublished at 09:46 13 August
09:46 13 August
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Everton's new loan signing Jack Grealish.
Here are some of your comments:
Danny: This is a great move for Everton, and likewise for Jack. Jack is a superb talent and he wasn't allowed to shine last season for Manchester City. An extremely talented English player with a heart of gold. Give him match time - he will get the confidence and reward the loyalty. The city of Liverpool may just start to turn a shade blue!
Mark: Hmmm, not sure. We now have an unbalanced midfield. Ndiaye as a 10? Alcaraz? Grealish coming in from the left? McNeil? Aznou? What about Iroegbunam? Lots of competition in the centre and on the left. Big hole on the right.
Hodgey: Great to see Everton finally having a good transfer strategy. It has been so long. Some solid and realistic signings for today and with a view to the future. Back to the Everton values and schemes that built the club.
Billy: We had been agonisingly waiting for a few players with clear, proven quality for too long. Grealish, alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a top signing. Is the reported £12m loan fee steep? Not when you consider the combined fees of last season's tragic loan deals (Harrison and Lindstrom), paired with the fact that Grealish can equally attract revenue and other players to follow him. There is not an abundance of better ways for our new number 18 to introduce himself than away at Leeds in five days' time!
Kevin: What a fantastic signing. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to the 2025-26 season.
