Leeds United are returning to the Premier League after two years and they will hope to start their 2025/26 campaign with a win against Everton on August 18 at Elland Road.
The Whites are back in the English top flight after winning the Championship last season, having secured 100 points and showed a lot of promise under the tutelage of Daniel Farke.
They will hope to continue that form in the Premier League, but they are going to face a stern test against Everton to start their new campaign as they desperately aim to stay in the top flight.
Leeds are very much active in the transfer market as Farke wanted to add a couple of more players before they take the field against the Toffees. They have secured the signing of former Everton man Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been a free agent for two months after leaving Merseyside.
After finishing 13th in the Premier League standings last season, Everton fans will expect improvement from David Moyes’ men in the upcoming campaign as they have made some really good signings to improve their roster.
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They have brought in Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich and Mark Travers from Bournemouth.
They also made Carlos Alcaraz’s loan move permanent whilst securing the signature of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City.
However, Moyes still wants to add a right winger, defensive midfielder and a right-back in this transfer window as they have been linked with several players.
MORE: Why things went wrong for Jack Grealish at Manchester City
Leeds United vs Everton lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Farke will miss the services of Jaka Bijol in the Premier League opener as he is suspended for the fixture after getting sent off in his last match for Udinese.
There are also doubts regarding Jayden Bogle‘s availability, with the full-back nursing a hip injury and facing a last-minute fitness test. Belgian centre back Sebastiaan Bornauw is also a doubt.
Lucas Perri is expected to start in goal, replacing Illan Meslier, while Pascal Struijk will lead the defense with Ethan Ampadu and new signing Anton Stach providing stability in midfield.
Last season’s top scorer in the Championship, Joel Piroe, is expected to start the Premier League campaign with Calvert-Lewin potentially starting from the bench against his former team.
Leeds United predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Perri (GK) — Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundson — Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka — James, Piroe, Gnonto
Injured: Bogle (hip, doubt), Bornauw (calf)
Suspended: Bijol
Everton are in much better space with their injuries and suspensions heading into the 2025/26 season. Vitaliy Mykolenko is a doubt due to a groin issue, and Jarrad Branthwaite will miss out after suffering an injury in training this week.
Harrison Armstrong and Nathan Patterson are the other two absentees from this match for the Toffees.
New signing Aznou could replace Mykolenko if he is unable to feature. The rest of the back line pick themselves, with Jordan Pickford in goal and James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien filling the other three spots.
Dewsbury-Hall is expected to make his Premier League debut for Everton partnering Idrissa Gueye in midfield, and Grealish may feature on the left flank with Barry leading the line.
Everton predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Pickford (GK) — O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Aznou — Dewsbury-Hall, Gueye — Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Grealish — Barry
Injured: Patterson (hamstring), Armstrong (thigh), Branthwaite (undisc.), Mykolenko (groin, doubtful)
Suspended: None
Leeds United vs. Everton FC match details
- Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local time / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
- Location: Elland Road, Leeds (England)
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
- VAR: John Brooks
