Everton v Leeds – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Everton host Leeds at Goodison Park on Saturday evening. The game throws up two legends of the coaching world in Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Bielsa in what looks sure to be a high scoring and entertaining match. Both sides have an in-form striker but don’t look particularly solid at the other end, to say the least.

Everton Form

Everton started the season with four wins from four, before a run of four games without a win (DLLL) before getting back on track in their last match with a 3-2 win away at Fulham. In eight of their last nine league matches, they have conceded two or more goals. They have the fourth best attack and also the fourth worst defence.

The reason for their poor form was largely down to red cards, suspensions and injuries and it is no surprise that with Richarlison and Lucas Digne back, they won again.

Everton Team News

Everton are still without long-term injury victim Jean-Philippe Gbamin in midfield and Fabian Delph could also be absent. Carlo Ancelotti looks set to be without Seamus Coleman after he aggravated a hamstring injury. In Everton’s win at Fulham, Alex Iwobi was highly impressive as a right wingback and he may continue in that role.

Everton Motivation

Everton will go for the win at home in this game. With Ancelotti using a 3-4-2-1 setup in the last match, that allows him to drop into a 5-4-1 defensively and draw Leeds onto them before looking to exploit the space that Marcelo Bielsa’s team will invariably leave.

Leeds Form

After Leeds’ impressive start to the season where they ran Liverpool close, beat Fulham and Sheffield United and drew with Man City, they have had a reality check. Counter attacking sides in Wolves, Leicester City (4-1 loss) and Crystal Palace (4-1 loss) handed them three defeat in a four game run (though Leeds thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 away in the other).

Leeds Team News

The main injury doubt for Leeds is that of Pablo Hernandez in midfield. His loss is less of an issue now that Rodrigo has recovered from Covid-19 and can play off Patrick Bamford again. Diego Llorente is still injured and is yet to play since moving from Real Sociedad which is a pity as he has been touted as a solution to Bielsa’s defensive woes.

Leeds Motivation

Bielsa’s teams always attack in numbers, play at break-neck speed and use full pitch man-marking. They will go for the win in this match and even if they are leading, they will keep attacking and won’t shut up shop. The only real question is whether they will go to a back three as they did against Sheffield United to match up and whether Bielsa starts Rodrigo behind Bamford or goes for more natural midfielders.

Key Stats

Everton have had a league-high 7 matches with over 2.5 goals this 

season

Leeds have had a league-high 4 PL matches with over 4.5 goals this season

Everton’s 4 home PL games with season have all seen over 2.5 goals

Leeds have won 1 of their last 6 PL matches

Patrick Bamford has scored 6 of his 7 PL goals this season on the road (2nd most in the league)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the top scorer in the PL with 10 goals (5 at home, most in PL)

Leeds have lost 3 of their 4 PL matches when they have trailed at HT

Prediction

This game looks likely to be high-scoring and Everton could hand Leeds another defeat.