Everton will welcome Leeds United to Goodison Park on Saturday, with the two teams separated by one spot and four points in the Premier League table.
The arrival of England legend Frank Lampard in the Everton dugout has caught the attention of a wider audience. The former Chelsea manager celebrated a 4-1 win over Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend in his first match in charge of Everton.
However, the Toffees came crashing back down to earth, losing 3-1 to relegation rivals Newcastle in the Premier League in midweek, indicating that Lampard faces a huge task to get this uninspiring Everton side over the line this term. The result leaves them just two points ahead of 18th-placed Norwich.
The Merseysiders need to pick up some points quickly, having lost each of their last four top-flight games and being winless in their last six in the competition. The Toffees have a big opportunity to close the gap on a direct competitor and avoid being pulled deeper into the relegation battle when they host Leeds United at Goodison Park.
Leeds, meanwhile, shared the spoils with Aston Villa in a six-goal thriller on Wednesday night. Marcelo Bielsa’s side rallied from a 3-1 deficit to earn a point as Dan James grabbed a brace, and it was a deserved point given their spirited display. They are now one place and four points above the hosts in the Premier League, and a victory here would create a healthy seven-point cushion over the Toffees.
The Whites have continued their mixed form of late and have registered two victories, one draw and two losses in their last five in the Premier League. They are six points ahead of Norwich in 18th place and are very much in danger of getting pulled into a relegation scrap should the results go against them.
The reverse fixture between the two sides earlier in the season ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Elland Road. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Gearing up for Leeds (h) ⚙️ #EVELEE pic.twitter.com/A9zeUo2pJk
— Everton (@Everton) February 11, 2022
Everton suffered a double blow in the painful defeat at St James’ Park, as both Yerry Mina and Demarai Gray were forced off with injuries and are expected to miss out this weekend. The duo will join the treatment room alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies, Fabian Delph and Ben Godfrey. Full-back Vitaly Mykolenko is also a slight doubt owing to an unspecified illness.
Frank Lampard has fielded a 3-4-3 formation in his first two matches in charge, but may switch to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 system against Leeds. He is expected to hand starts to winter arrivals Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli. Jordan Pickford would start in between the sticks for the Toffees despite a shaky display last time out, with a back-four comprising Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Jonjoe Kenny in front of him.
Up ahead in midfield, van de Beek and Allan are likely to form a midfield double pivot. The former will bring composure and the ability to retain possession, while the latter will keep track of Leeds’ midfield runners. Andros Townsend will shift into his favoured right-wing spot, whereas Richarlison will provide explosiveness and trickery down the left flank.
Everton missed the presence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will hopefully make a return to the starting eleven to spearhead the Toffees attack. Dele Alli will aim to be more effective than last time out against Newcastle, operating in the No. 10 position just behind the striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Kenny; Allan, van de Beek; Townsend, Alli, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
Leeds United
Leeds United continue to make do without the services of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Sam Greenwood, as well as star striker Patrick Bamford. However, Junior Firpo has a good chance of returning from a thigh issue. Illan Meslier will continue to operate in goal for the Yorkshire outfit, with the Whites lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.
Bielsa could opt for a central defensive pairing of Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk as they look to keep things tight at the back. Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas will occupy the full-back positions. The duo will have the license to maraud forward and add width in Bielsa’s free-flowing offensive system.
Mateusz Klich was hooked off late in the Aston Villa draw due to a knock, which might lead to a recall for Adam Forshaw in the centre of the park alongside Robin Koch. The midfield duo will look to dictate the game from the middle of the park and push the team up the pitch.
Raphinha was fit to start at Villa but had a relatively quiet game. The Brazilian has scored in each of his three outings against Everton and will aim to continue his hot streak against the Toffees, whereas Jack Harrison will start on the opposite flank.
With Patrick Bamford still unavailable, Daniel James will retain his spot in the ‘false-nine’ role after scoring a brace at Villa Park, with creative support coming from Rodrigo, who will slot in just behind the Welshman.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Koch, Forshaw; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James
Key Stats
- Everton have lost their last four Premier League matches. The last time they lost more successive games in the top-flight was in 2005 (6).
- Everton have only lost once in their last eight Premier League meetings against Leeds United (W4 D3), but that loss came in the corresponding fixture last term.
- The Whites won the same fixture 1-0 last season. They have not won on consecutive league visits to Goodison Park since November 1976.
- Defence has been one of the Toffees’ biggest issues as they have not kept a clean sheet in their last ten games in the Premier League.
- Leeds’ failure to close the back door away from home continues to plague them, as they have conceded 15 goals in their previous four top-flight away games.
Player to Watch
Daniel James
James has regularly been deployed as a centre-forward by Marcelo Bielsa of late due to the extended absence of Patrick Bamford with an injury. The 24-year-old had previously struggled when required to lead the line, but his improved composure ensured he took his two chances at Aston Villa like a true goal-poacher.
The Wales international has blistering speed and work-rate to cause menace in the opposition box. He seems to be becoming more familiar with Bielsa’s tactics and has now netted three goals in his last four games. With Bamford again unavailable, James will fill the void up front and look to score another vital goal or two.
Prediction
Everton 2-2 Leeds United
A goalscoring affair could be in store here as both teams have a pretty poor clean-sheet record this season. Leeds will seek to build on their midweek momentum and improve their season-long record of only two away league wins.
On the other hand, the probable inclusions of Van de Beek, Alli, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the starting eleven might breathe fresh life into a Toffees side that has a lot to prove in this game. The Hard Tackle predicts that the sides will share the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Goodison Park.
