Here we go again.
Just 85 days after Everton ended the 2025–26 season with a win at St James’ Park, the Toffees begin the new campaign on the road – this time at newly promoted Leeds.
It has been a summer of change on and off the pitch for Everton, as the team finally bid farewell to Goodison Park and ushered in a new era on the banks of the royal blue Mersey. On it, manager David Moyes is still only partway through a major squad rebuild.
It is almost unprecedented to have 11 senior players leave in
one go – though I would contest that only Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Ashley Young will be truly missed.
So, to begin the campaign with seven new faces through the door is a decent effort, even if Moyes is clearly frustrated after missing out on a host of targets.
The players he has managed to bring in, though, have reinvigorated the fanbase and raised the prospect of watching a team capable of entertaining football again.
Charlie Alcaraz will hopefully build on the promise he showed last season. Thierno Barry looks to have all the attributes required to be a success in the Premier League. Adam Aznou could be a real coup, while the long hunt for a progressive passer in the number eight position could be over with the arrival of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Then there is Jack Grealish – the marquee name TFG will want to hang their hat on as we begin a new era. I understand the concerns of those analysing the cost of the deal and his age compared to other targets elsewhere. But the truth is, we don’t know whether those targets – no matter how good their stats looked on paper – were actually interested in joining.
Grealish is also a huge name who has generated a level of excitement in the fanbase not seen since James’ arrival in 2020. If he can somehow rediscover the spark, he could prove to be one of the buys of the summer.
There is more to be done, however – a right winger, central midfielder, and right-back are still desperately needed. The window can only be judged when it closes, and with two weeks left, there’s plenty of time for late drama.
The Opposition
Leeds are back in the Premier League after a two-year absence, following a dominant Championship season that saw them lift the title with 100 points.
It’s a far cry from May 2023, when the Whites went into the final day of the season battling to avoid the final relegation spot alongside Everton and Leicester. Leeds went down with a whimper in the end, losing 4–1 to Spurs. Everton, of course, stayed up by the skin of their teeth.
Daniel Farke, who previously guided Norwich to Championship promotion, was appointed to rebuild the side. Leeds went all the way to the play-off final in 2023–24, only to lose to Southampton. There were no doubts last season, though, as they clinched the title on goal difference ahead of Burnley, finishing 10 points clear of Sheffield United in third.
Their success was built on their home form, where they won 18, drew four, and lost just one—scoring 57 goals at Elland Road.
Everton have a decent recent record at Elland Road, winning three and drawing two of the last five visits, and losing just once in the last 11. That’s a dramatic turnaround considering the Toffees went 50 years without a win there before Wayne Rooney’s strike in 2002 ended the drought.
The match will also see former Toffee loanee Jack Harrison face the Blues again after two-seasons on loan at Goodison, though his frosty reception from the fans in a recent friendly suggests he may not feature from the start.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also joined Leeds on a free transfer, though the nightmare scenario of him scoring on debut might be avoided as he is reportedly not yet fully fit.
Previous Meeting
Everton 1–0 Leeds – 18 February, 2023
Everton came out on top in a tense relegation six-pointer back in February 2023. Seamus Coleman scored the only goal with a shot (or was it a cross?) from the touchline that beat a woefully out-of-position Illan Meslier. The result proved crucial, with the Toffees finishing four points ahead of Leeds in the final table.
Team News
Everton are already looking short at the back after Jarrad Branthwaite suffered a hamstring injury in training. Vitaliy Mykolenko is also a doubt after coming off early against Roma. Seamus Coleman, Adam Aznou, and Michael Keane are in contention to come into the side.
Nathan Patterson and Harrison Armstrong are also unlikely to feature. The good news is that Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Thierryne Barry could all make their debuts.
For Leeds, summer signings Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach, and Lucas Perri could make their debuts. Fellow new boy Jaka Bijol is suspended, and Jayden Bogle is a doubt.
Final Word
Playing a newly promoted side away on the opening day is never easy. Throw in the fact it’s Elland Road under the lights, and Everton will need to get off to a strong start to tame both the crowd and the players to come away with anything.
