On Monday night Everton will kick-start their league campaign with a tricky journey to Elland road to take on Daniel Farke's **Leeds United**with former blue Dominic Calvert-Lewin potentially facing his former club for the first time.
The Blues will be looking to carry on the momentum they gathered in the back-half of the 2024/25 campaign as **Everton**ended the season in strong fashion.
When speaking to the media manager David Moyes anticipates a tough outing.
He said: "It's a tough game when you go to a newly promoted side right away, but we finished the season really well, especially with our away form. So, hopefully we can continue that."
**Everton**will be without Jarrad Branthwaite for their encounter against **Leeds**as he suffered a hamstring injury in training.
"Jarrad unfortunately picked-up an injury in training and we're going to miss him but these things happen."
Moyes did alluded to the media that Vitaly Mykolenko, Harrison Armstrong and Nathan Patterson may be back for the Everton's league opener.
It's been a busy summer so far for Everton with the club brining in seven summer signing so far with the likes of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Therino Barry all adding pedigree to an Everton team which has been eroded of quality.
When asked by the media on their summer business so far Moyes said: "We're pleased to the players we've added to the squad but I'm not pleased because I think I need more and we need greater number.
"We want to continue adding to what we have. We're short in certain areas, we're okay in other departments, but we've got some good business done."
Everton's marquee signing this summer has been the acquisition this summer with the manager aims to get Grealish back doing what he does best and has been impressed with the 29-year-old and has set him a challenge for this season.
“I think Jack can play in several positions. I think he can play in midfield as well but my aim fis to get Jack in positions for us where he can create and score goals.”
“There are a lot of good things to like about Jack. I just need to make sure I get it at the right time and make sure he’s played football and we’ve think he’s played enough minutes.”
On competitions for places
With the Blues attacking options now bulked out this leaves David Moyes with tough decisions on who he plays and who he leaves out, with the likes of Dwight McNeil, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Grealish all fighting for the same position.
“I think it happens at every football club whoever plays well gets on the pitch and you can’t play them all at one time.
If they perform well they retain the jersey and let’s hope we get them playing well. If there’s anything we’ve been missing from what we’ve had is goals scored, goals created so hopefully the creative players will help me with the numbers.”
After spending nine years at the Toffees scoring 72 goals including the goal which secured Everton's Premier League status against Crystal Palace in 2023, and the second in Jurgen Klopp's last Merseyside Derby, the 28-year-old is in line to feature against his former club.
"I'm pleased for Dom because I had a really good relationship with him. I didn't really get a chance to deeply work with him he picked up the injury against Brighton and we only got him back on the last day."
"We found the financials just too much at the time and we chose to move on and it might of been the right time for Dom as well but I'm really pleased he's got himself sorted out and gone to Leeds United".