English Premier
2025-08-18 - Leeds United vs Everton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Monday 18th August 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Leeds United
A two year stay in the Championship ended in May with Leeds United finishing up as Champions of the second tier and returning to the Premier League. The club is one that will feel that should be established in the top flight, but a gap has developed between the top two Divisions and it will be a considerable fight for Leeds United to merely consolidate this season.
Some reports suggested Leeds United had actually considered removing manager Daniel Farke, despite him winning the title and helping the team pick up 100 points in the Championship. Investment has been made in the squad, but Farke could be on a short leash and Leeds United have to pick up some early points to give the board confidence in the ability of the manager.
Leeds United will be looking to avoid an immediate relegation to the Championship and they did end last season on a 10 game unbeaten run with the last 6 all in winning efforts. The side are also unbeaten in 7 at Elland Road since being upset by Millwall in the FA Cup and Leeds United have won 5 of those matches.
Jaka Bijol is suspended, while both Jayden Bogle and Sebastian Bornauw are doubts. The working theory at Leeds United is purchasing size to be competitive in the Premier League, and they have also invested in a new first choice goalkeeper in the bid to survive.
Everton
A new era will begin at Everton next weekend when they play their first competitive fixture at their new home, but first they have a big challenge in facing a newly promoted club under the Monday night lights. David Moyes is still hoping the club are working hard to bring in new faces to bolster his options and the fans will be excited about the arrival of Jack Grealish.
Four consecutive seasons have ended with Everton in the bottom half of the table, but there are big ambitions at the club under new ownership. They finished 13th last time around and The Toffees had a 25 point gap to the bottom three so David Moyes will be looking for the team to push up the final standings. The side had a 6-6-7 record away from home in the last campaign.
Everton will begin this season unbeaten in the last 4 Premier League games played and they concluded the season with 3 straight wins to finish as high as they did. They also won 3 of the last 4 away Premier League games, including wins at Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, while the sole exception was Everton's narrow loss at Stamford Bridge.
Nathan Patterson, Harrison Armstrong and Vitalii Mykolenko are all doubts for this game on Monday. Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have both arrived during the summer transfer window and will be pushing for starts.
Head to Head
Three seasons ago, Everton took four points from the Premier League matches against Leeds United.
The fixture at Elland Road ended in a draw and each of the last 2 matches hosted by Leeds United against Everton have ended with the points shared.
Prediction
There will be a vibrant atmosphere under the lights on Monday evening at Elland Road as Leeds United make their return to the top flight.
Daniel Farke has held onto his job as manager, but there is a big desire from Leeds United to survive and he will need a positive start to the campaign.
Investment has been made this summer and Leeds United have targeted physical players who can help them compete at this level. The feeling around Elland Road is that the previous teams that have been promoted over the last couple of years have lacked that presence in the starting eleven to compete against top flight clubs and so set pieces will be a key for Leeds United at both ends of the pitch.
Former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to sign for Leeds United, but his biggest impact this week may be letting his new team know about the strengths and weaknesses of his former team-mates.
This is far from an easy opener for Leeds United when going up against a stubborn Everton team that were only beaten 12 times last season.
David Moyes has plenty of experience and he will be glad that some new faces have joined his squad with the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish offering increased quality. The manager will still want to see more signings made before the close of the transfer window, but his Everton team will be well organised and that will make it tough for the home side.
That stubbornness has seen Everton only lose 1 of the last 6 away games played against newly promoted clubs.
However, wins have not always been easy to come by and half of those matches have ended in draws, while the last two times Everton have visited Leeds United have done the same.
It looks like a match that will be tough to pick a winner, but the draw is perhaps the best play at the biggest price and worthy of a small interest.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Leeds United 1-1 Everton
