The wait is finally over. Leeds United are back in the Premier League, and their first test is a Monday night showdown with Everton at Elland Road on 18 August 2025.
Kick-off is set for 8 PM BST, and the stadium will be packed to the rafters with a sold-out crowd ready to roar the Whites back into top-flight action.
Under Daniel Farke, Leeds arrive unbeaten from pre-season, eager to prove they belong. Everton, marshalled by veteran manager David Moyes, are looking to spoil the homecoming, with the added intrigue of a potential Jack Grealish debut. The atmosphere will be electric, the stakes high, and the rivalry as fierce as ever.
Leeds United vs Everton: A Game Steeped in History
Few fixtures in English football carry the balance and bite of Leeds United vs Everton. Across all competitive meetings, the record is perfectly matched — 53 wins each. In the Premier League era (28 matches), Everton just edge it with nine victories to Leeds’ eight, alongside 11 draws.
Recent clashes have been tight affairs. In February 2023, Everton claimed a 1-0 win at Goodison Park, while the previous August saw a 1-1 draw at Elland Road. Leeds’ last league win over the Toffees came in November 2020, a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park courtesy of a Raphinha strike.
One historic moment came in the 2002/03 season when Everton broke a 51-year hoodoo at Elland Road, winning 1-0.
David Moyes called it “a great result for the supporters” and a personal milestone in his first Elland Road appearance as a visiting boss.
Leeds United’s Pre-Season Momentum
Leeds’ summer preparations couldn’t have gone much better. They went unbeaten, with standout results including a 1-1 draw against AC Milan in Dublin, a 1-1 against Villarreal, and a gritty 0-0 versus Manchester United. Wins over SC Paderborn (3-2) and SC Verl (4-1) showcased attacking intent.
Key new signings for Leeds United:
Lucas Perri – £15.6m goalkeeper from Lyon, already handed the No. 1 shirt and set to start.
Anton Stach – Midfield arrival from Hoffenheim, scored a spectacular equaliser against Milan and looks a ready-made Premier League presence.
Gabriel Gudmundsson – Expected to start at left-back after a steady pre-season.
Sean Longstaff – Brings midfield stability and top-flight experience.
Lukas Nmecha – Pre-season goals in Germany could see him start over Joel Piroe against Everton’s physical defence.
Absentees: Jaka Bijol is suspended, and Jayden Bogle remains a fitness doubt with a hip injury.
Despite the positives, Daniel Farke has voiced concerns over the side’s attacking edge:
“In comparison to our Championship squad, we haven’t improved our offensive side… We are prepared to be competitive for one or two games and we’re capable to play on a good level.”
Everton’s Pre-Season and Selection Headaches
Everton’s pre-season was less convincing, capped by a 1-0 defeat to AS Roma in their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Other results included a 2-2 draw with Manchester United, but defeats to West Ham (1-2) and Bournemouth (0-3) exposed vulnerabilities.
Injury blow: Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko’s groin injury could sideline him, potentially forcing Moyes to ditch his favoured back-four for a back-three.
Key signings for Everton:
Thierno Barry – £27m striker from Villarreal, expected to add pace but may need time to adapt. Carlos Alcaraz – Now signed permanently to boost midfield creativity. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Offers energy and distribution in the centre.
Jack Harrison’s Uwanted Return – Under the Spotlight
Back at Leeds after two loan seasons at Everton, Jack Harrison faces a frosty reception from sections of the Elland Road faithful. His decision to leave on loan after relegation was viewed by some as a lack of loyalty, leading to heavy boos in pre-season matches.
Daniel Farke has urged supporters to give him a chance:
“It’s up to Jack to win everyone over – to show commitment, to show desire. He’s a top character and has every chance to win our supporters back.”
Still, rumours persist that Leeds could entertain offers for the winger before the transfer window closes.
The Jack Grealish Factor
Everton are working on a £15m loan deal for Jack Grealish from Manchester City. If it’s completed in time, the former £100m England international could debut at Elland Road. Moyes sees him as the creative spark to link midfield and attack, potentially pairing him with Iliman Ndiaye in an exciting new-look forward line.
Peter Lorimer – Leeds United’s Evergreen Connection to the Fixture
No Leeds vs Everton preview is complete without mention of Peter Lorimer, Leeds United’s all-time top scorer in this fixture with eight goals. Lorimer scored 238 goals in 705 appearances for the club, his thunderous strikes earning him the nicknames “HotShot” and “Lash.”
Eddie Gray once said:
“Peter was the purest striker of a ball I’d ever seen.”
Lorimer’s legacy is a reminder of the firepower Leeds once boasted — and a challenge to the current squad to create their own history
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