Leeds United kick off their return to the Premier League with a home clash against Everton in the first ‘Monday Night Football’ of the season.
The Whites are back in the top flight once again, having suffered relegation from the Premier League back in 2023.
Daniel Farke’s side missed out on promotion from the Championship in 2024, losing in the play-off final to Southampton.
Leeds were able to push over the line last season, though, securing automatic promotion with 100 points.
Premier League football returns to Elland Road on Monday night, with Everton visiting West Yorkshire for a fascinating encounter to start the season.
Paul Merson attending Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Paul Merson shares Leeds United v Everton prediction
Everton are heading into a first full season under David Moyes, having shown encouraging signs of improvement after the Scot replaced Sean Dyche.
The Toffees have added Jack Grealish this week, and may throw him into the squad for the trip to Leeds.
Paul Merson is backing Grealish for success at Everton, and has now shared his prediction for Monday’s clash.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson has again praised Everton’s deal for Grealish, believing that the move to Merseyside will bring out his best form once again.
Merson is backing Everton to claim a 1-0 victory, believing that Leeds will suffer from a ‘gulf in class’ when the Toffees visit Elland Road.
Merson questions just how Leeds are going to accumulate points if they can’t open the season with a home win, and believes the Whites will struggle to pick up points this season.
“Everton have made a great signing in Jack Grealish. He will play with more freedom at Everton, and that could bring the best out of him,” said Merson.
“Leeds will be looking at this fixture as a must-win game, though. Points are going to be in shortage for teams that have come up this season, and like I said before, the opening game is a big leveller for them.
“If Leeds are unable to win on home turf this weekend, you cannot help but wonder how they are going to get points week in, week out!
“It’s going to be a hard game because Everton are a decent team. David Moyes will set them up pretty well for this fixture too. In the end, I believe Everton will have too much for Leeds. This is the gulf in class you are up against in the Premier League if you’re a newly-promoted team,” he added.
Leeds targeting new signings ahead of Everton clash
Leeds have already brought in seven first-team signings this summer, with Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach and Lucas Perri arriving.
Many of those signings will be on show against Everton, but the quest for new additions continues at Elland Road.
Leeds are close to signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and his debut could come against Everton just weeks after leaving the Toffees.
Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon is wanted by Leeds, having enjoyed a strong loan spell with the Whites last season.
The Athletic now add that Leeds are chasing AC Milan attacker Noah Okafor, though a deal looks unlikely to materialise before facing Everton.
Farke seemingly believes that his Leeds squad still needs additions, but Calvert-Lewin may be the only one through the door before Monday night.