David Moyes has named the XI for Everton's first game of the new Premier League season at Leeds
Jack Grealish of Everton arrives prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Jack Grealish has been named as a substitute for Everton’s season opener at Leeds United.
The 29-year-old, who joined on loan last week, looks set to get his first taste of action in Royal Blue from the bench as David Moyes aims to start the season with a positive result in Yorkshire. Grealish has been training with his new teammates since Tuesday but is short of match fitness having been left out of parent club Manchester City’s pre-season schedule.
Everton are without Jarrad Branthwaite, who suffered a hamstring injury in training last week, while Vitalii Mykolenko is also absent as he continues to deal with a knock suffered in the friendly against Roma.
The loss of Mykolenko is a significant blow for Moyes, with the left back central to the defensive unit that has been one of the most stubborn in the Premier League over the past two seasons.
As a result, Moyes has handed a surprise start to Tim Iroegbunam, suggesting a back three of Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski could be complemented by wing backs - possibly with James Garner and Iliman Ndiaye in those positions. That would see Iroegbunam partner Idrissa Gueye in the middle, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carlos Alcaraz lining up behind Beto.
Grealish is on the bench alongside fellow new signings Thierno Barry and Mark Travers, while Harrison Armstrong has made it back from a thigh issue to make the bench.
Starting XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Ndiaye, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Garner, Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall, Beto
Bench: Travers, Tyrer, Coleman, Grealish, McNeil, Onyango, Armstrong, Barry, Chermiti