Leeds United v Everton Betting Preview, Monday 18 August
Matchday one of the Premier League concludes with a fascinating clash at Elland Road, where newly promoted Leeds United welcome Everton in front of what promises to be a raucous Yorkshire crowd.
It’s a fixture that pits two clubs with proud traditions and contrasting trajectories against each other, the Peacocks, back in the big time under Daniel Farke, and the Toffees, rejuvenated under David Moyes’ return.
Here are my thoughts, along with a betting suggestion for your consideration.
Before diving into the details of this clash, it’s worth taking a glance at the current outright Premier League title markets. Liverpool remain at 7/4 favourites, with Arsenal close behind at 2/1. Manchester City have shortened to 3/1, while Chelsea have drifted to 10/1. Beyond that, the rest of the field are trading at 28/1 or longer.
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LEEDS UNITED v EVERTON – Click here to bet
Back in the Premier League, Leeds United return with purpose after a dominant 100-point season in the Championship, arguably the strongest of the three promoted sides who appear to be well-placed to survive the step up. Their fortress-like home record – 14 wins, four draws and just one defeat – formed the foundation of their success. Daniel Farke’s side scored 95 goals in total, 61 of them at Elland Road. Supporters will be eager to see whether that same attacking flair can translate to the top flight, and pre-season offered encouraging signs as Leeds held Manchester United (0-0), Villarreal (1-1), and AC Milan (1-1) in competitive friendlies. Summer signings have further strengthened the spine, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri, defender Jaka Bijol, and midfielder Sean Longstaff all arriving, though the lack of a proven Premier League striker remains a lingering concern as the challenges ahead grow sharper.
For Everton, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. Moyes steadied the ship last season, guiding the Toffees to a respectable 13th-place finish after a nightmare start under Sean Dyche that saw them lose four straight. Their away form also showed signs of progress — Everton lost just twice in their final nine league trips (W5, D2, L2) — and late wins at Fulham and Newcastle underlined that resilience. Across the campaign, Everton scored just 16 goals on the road, but the summer reinforcements offer hope that this could change. Thierno Barry adds pace and directness up front, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strengthens midfield creativity, and the loan signing of Jack Grealish could prove a masterstroke if the former City man finds rhythm.
Head-to-Head
Recent history favours Everton, who are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Leeds, collecting three wins and two draws. Their most recent trip to Elland Road came in the 2022/23 campaign, when the sides played out a 1-1 draw. Notably, both sides have found the net in each of the last three encounters at the same venue.
Betting
Leeds United 14/10
Draw 95/40
Everton 9/4
Verdict
This is a difficult fixture to call, as neither side has played a competitive match in the season yet. Both teams have shown in recent history that they can score, but this encounter is likely to be tight and cagey, particularly with Leeds adjusting to the Premier League. Given this, the preferred option is for goals to be at a minimum this Monday evening.
Suggested Bet: Totals – Under 2.5 8/10
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
