Relegation-threatened Leeds United will hit the road to square up against mid-table Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
Leeds United will be eyeing their first-ever double over Everton in the Premier League when they travel to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time on Monday night.
The home team are 11th on the table with 32 points in their 22 matches. While David Moyes’s men have struggled for consistency throughout the season, their recent win over in-form Aston Villa was a massive boost for their season.
Everton stunned Unai Emery’s team in their backyard (1-0), ending their 11-match winning streak at Villa Park. While the Toffees have only won two out of their last five league games, they will still be confident about getting the job done at home.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 16th on the table with 25 points in their 22 outings. While they are five points clear of the drop zone, the Yorkshire-based outfit cannot afford to relax, as a few disappointing results could force them to fight for survival.
After a run of four games without a win, Leeds United secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham in their last league outing. It was an impressive performance from their end, and Lukas Nmecha’s injury-time strike helped them secure all three points. They will be looking for a similar performance against Everton. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Jack Grealish (foot) has joined Michael Keane (suspended) on the sidelines. While Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring), Carlos Alcaraz (unspecified) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring) are all back training, David Moyes decided against declaring them fit for this fixture. Meanwhile, Lazio-linked Tim Iroegbunam (knock) is a major doubt for this fixture.
The Toffees will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Jordan Pickford will take charge in goal. Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko will feature as the full-backs, while Jake O’Brien will start alongside James Tarkowski in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, James Garner will pair up with Merlin Rohl in the centre of the park. The duo will form the double pivot in the middle of the pitch, looking to shield the backline and ensure they dominate the ball.
Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Harrison Armstrong will take up the number ten role, while Thierno Barry will lead the line for Everton against Leeds United on Monday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Rohl; Ndiaye, Armstrong, McNeil; Barry
Leeds United
The Yorkshire-based outfit will be without the services of Jaka Bijol and Daniel James, who are both struggling with hamstring issues. Meanwhile, Anton Stach (adductor) is slowly closing in on a return.
Leeds United will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, where Karl Darlow will be in goal. The back three will be made up of James Justin, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk. The trio will receive significant support from Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson, who will feature as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Anton Stach will start alongside Brenden Aaronson and Ethan Ampadu in the centre of the park. The trio will look to ensure Everton midfielders do not run the show. Meanwhile, Lukas Nmecha could be handed a start here alongside former Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Darlow; Justin, Struijk, Rodon; Bogle, Stach, Aaronson, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
- After a run of four league games without a win, Leeds United finally secured all three points against Fulham last time out.
- The Toffees have won two out of their last four league games.
- Everton ended Aston Villa’s 11-match winning streak at Villa Park last time out.
- Leeds United secured a 1-0 win over Everton earlier in the season and now have the chance of scripting a first-ever Premier League double over the Toffees.
- Since Daniel Farke shifted to the 3-5-2 formation, Leeds United have only lost one out of their last matches.
Player to Watch
Lukas Nmecha
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Lukas Nmecha will be the one to watch against Everton, given his knack for delivering in decisive moments. The forward has already shown his clutch mentality this season, scoring injury-time winners against Fulham and Everton on Matchday 1, proving he thrives under pressure.
Despite limited minutes (756 across 21 appearances), Nmecha has still managed to contribute five goals and an assist, highlighting his efficiency in front of goal. With his movement, physical presence, and eye for late drama, he could once again play a pivotal role against the Toffees.
Prediction
Everton 3-2 Leeds United
Everton will head into this fixture full of confidence after their impressive win at Villa Park, and playing at home should allow them to control large spells of the game. Their physicality and width in attack could pose problems for Leeds United’s back three, especially if the Toffees are able to move the ball quickly and pin the visitors deep in their own half.
Leeds, however, have shown renewed resilience since switching to a 3-5-2 system and will look to stay compact before striking on the counter. While they are capable of making this a tight contest, Everton’s home advantage and recent momentum may just give them the edge in a closely fought encounter. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-2 win for the home team.
