Leeds United are fancied to get off the mark with a draw in their opening game tonight at home to Everton at Elland Road.
The Premier League returns to West Yorkshire this evening with Daniel Farke’s Championship title winners taking on David Moyes’ Everton at home.
Across the Premier League were a number of intriguing results to kick off the new campaign, and Leeds will be looking to make a statement of their own.
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Chris Sutton predicts Leeds United v Everton scoreline
All eyes will be on United and the Toffees tonight as the final fixture of the weekend on Monday Night Football, as both sides look to get off to winning starts for different reasons: Leeds aiming to stake their claim for survival, while Moyes’ men intend to push towards the top half this season.
For Chris Sutton, he is looking forward to a tough game for the away side at a “rocking” Elland Road.
“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,” Sutton wrote for the BBC.
“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.
(REUTERS/Russell Cheyne)
An interesting sub-plot that haas developed since the weekend is Leeds’ signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer, who is unlikely to be fit enough to start, but could be involved in some capacity off the bench.
“One of the players who left Everton this summer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, officially joined Leeds last week,” Sutton continued.
“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?”
Sutton rounded off his prediction with his scoreline, thinking the points will be shared with a 1-1 draw.
Can Leeds United stamp their mark on the Premier League with statement home win?
Everton are by no means a straightforward first game in the Premier League and even though they’re in a similar position to us in terms of needing more signings by the end of the window, there’s a lot of quality in their squad.
As Sutton notes, the attacking additions have revamped the Toffees’ front line and that should be on display tonight.
He worries about our defence under Farke, but given our investments, and the fact that aside from Burnley’s, our defensive record in 24/25 is the best the Championship has ever seen – which should stand us in good stead.
Where I personally have concerns is where the goals come from in this side, given that we’ve only added two free agent strikers to our Championship side.
What are your score predictions? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!