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Everton vs Leeds United: Premier League Showdown Preview
Monday night brings a compelling Premier League fixture as Everton welcome Leeds United to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for an 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports Main Event. Both sides enter this match with contrasting recent fortunes, setting the stage for a potentially tense and tactical battle under the lights.
Current Form and League Context
Everton approach this home fixture buoyed by a crucial 1-0 away victory against Aston Villa in their last league outing. That result, secured by Thierno Barry's 59th-minute strike, ended a concerning three-match winless streak across all competitions and lifted Sean Dyche's side to 10th in the Premier League table. However, their campaign has been hampered by a lack of cutting edge in attack, netting just 24 goals from 22 league games so far.
Leeds United, under the guidance of Daniel Farke, arrive in Liverpool with significant momentum. The Whites have lost only one of their last ten matches in all competitions—a thrilling 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United earlier this month. Their impressive recent run includes victories over Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Derby County in the FA Cup, alongside creditable draws with Liverpool, Brentford, Sunderland, and Manchester United. These results have helped create a five-point buffer above the relegation zone, with betting sites now pricing their relegation odds at a lengthy 14/1.
Key Betting Tips and Predictions
Prediction 1: Dominic Calvert-Lewin Anytime Goalscorer
The narrative surrounding Dominic Calvert-Lewin adds a fascinating subplot to this encounter. The striker, who spent nine years at Everton before joining Leeds last summer, has rediscovered his scoring touch at Elland Road. After opening his account in a 3-1 win at Wolves in September, Calvert-Lewin enjoyed a prolific spell, scoring seven times in six consecutive games from late November through December. With nine goals already this season—more than he managed in his final four campaigns with Everton—he poses a significant threat to his former club. Football betting sites offer 11/5 on him scoring at any time during the match.
Prediction 2: The Match to End in a Draw
Given the history between these two sides and their current trajectories, a closely-fought contest appears likely. Their last meeting, on the opening day of the season, was settled by a Lukas Nmecha penalty just six minutes from time. The previous encounter at Goodison Park also yielded a single goal, with Seamus Coleman's rare strike securing victory for Everton. Leeds' record at Everton's home ground is poor, with just one win in their last 17 visits—a 1-0 victory in November 2020 courtesy of a Raphinha penalty. Everton, however, are winless in their last four outings at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, including league defeats to Arsenal and Brentford. With both teams potentially prioritising defensive solidity, the 9/4 odds offered on a draw present an intriguing option.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Everton will be bolstered by the return of Iliman Ndiaye from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, they will be without the creative influence of Jack Grealish, who is sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot. Their attacking concerns are highlighted by the fact their joint-top scorers—Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Ndiaye—have managed just four league goals each this term.
Leeds, meanwhile, will look to their in-form striker Calvert-Lewin to lead the line against his old club. The visitors have shown they can compete with the league's best on their day and will be confident of getting a result.
Everton Predicted Line-up: Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Rohl, Armstrong; McNeil, N'Diaye, Barry.
Leeds United Predicted Line-up: Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Bogle; Aaronson, Ampadu, Gruev; Gudmundsson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.
Responsible Gambling Reminder
It is vital that individuals engage with betting sites and all forms of gambling responsibly. Always set a strict budget before placing any bets and never chase losses. The abundance of free bets and promotional offers should be approached with caution, ensuring they do not encourage excessive play.
Utilise the responsible gambling tools provided by licensed operators, such as deposit limits, loss limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion options. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties with gambling, support is available from organisations like the NHS, GamCare, and Gamblers Anonymous.
Please note that all odds and offers mentioned are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Always check the terms and conditions associated with any betting promotion.
