Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United side will play their first home match of the 2021/22 Premier League season on Saturday afternoon, when they host Everton at Elland Road (3pm).
The Whites are looking to bounce back from opening day defeat, whereas the Toffees are coming into the game on the back of an impressive victory over Southampton.
A change in the dugout at Goodison Park this season has seen well-known Premier League manager, Rafael Benitez return to Merseyside. Famous for his work with the red half of the city, he will now be looking to inspire the Blues towards the top end of the table.
The Spaniard has overseen a side at Elland Road three times, and all three were with different clubs. He took charge of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea, and won with all three in West Yorkshire.
Last season, two competitive and entertaining matches between Leeds and Everton saw a win apiece, both by the odd goal. Raphinha netted the winner at Goodison Park, whereas the Toffees ran out 2-1 winners at Elland Road.
This season Leeds will be boosted by a sold-out home crowd, many of which are retaking their seats for the first time since March 2020, when a Luke Ayling stunner saw Bielsa’s side beat Huddersfield Town.
A packed out away end for Everton will see their supporters return to Premier League viewing on the road, having been away since a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in March 2020.
Ahead of the match, neither team appear to have any fresh injury concerns following their first matches of the new campaign, allowing for an entertaining encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Manager/head coach:
Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa
Everton: Rafa Benitez
What Marcelo Bielsa said:
“What has made him [Rafa Benitez] successful is he puts together a very compact team, difficult to beat and he always manages to get the maximum out of the players he manages. There hasn’t been big changes in regards to the players, the players are basically the same ones as last season. The challenges that I expect are the ones I mentioned about Benitez, they’re strong efficient and hard to beat.”
League position:
Leeds United: 20th
Everton: 5th
Premier League form:
Leeds United: L
Everton: W
Top scorer:
Leeds United: Luke Ayling (1)
Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucouré (1)
Head to head:
Leeds United wins: 52
Draws: 32
Everton wins: 34
Last win against Everton:
Saturday 28 November, 2020.
Premier League
Everton 0
Leeds United 1 (Raphinha 79’)
Team news:
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United may again be without Spanish international Diego Llorente who is still recovering from an injury he picked up in pre-season. Kalvin Phillips is likely to come back into the side after staying on the bench at Old Trafford last weekend.
For the visitors, they are likely to still be without James Rodriguez, Ben Godfrey, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes, after all four missed the opening day victory at Goodison Park.
Officials:
Referee – Darren England
Assistant Referee 1 – Eddie Smart
Assistant Referee 2 – Dan Robathan
Fourth Official – Andre Marriner
Video Assistant Referee – Kevin Friend
The key battle:
Liam Cooper v Dominic Calvert-Lewin
England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to come up against Scotland international and Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, on Saturday afternoon. The 24-year-old striker scored his first goal of the new season in last week’s home fixture with Southampton, as he headed home from close range. Calvert-Lewin was part of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad that reached the final of this summer’s European Championship. Last season the forward scored 16 goals in 33 appearances including a goal at Elland in Everton’s 2-1 win.
Match stats:
Latest odds:
Leeds United:5/4
Draw: 13/5
Everton: 2/1 (Odds correct at time of article published)
How to watch:
The match has not been selected for live UK broadcast. Match commentary is available via LUTV.
Important supporter information:
Please click here to read full supporter information if you are attending the match on Saturday.
