How Leeds United performed in pre-season and what Everton should expect
Everton travel to Leeds for their Premier League opener, and it could be a difficult encounter.
David Moyes‘ side head to Elland Road on 18 August after a dismal pre-season campaign, in which they failed to win a single game.
They started with a draw and a loss on home soil to Accrington Stanley and Blackburn, before losses to Bournemouth and West Ham and a draw against Manchester United in America.
Their final pre-season match was against the Friedkin Group’s other major club, AS Roma, but the final test event at the Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in a 1-0 loss.
Goodison News takes a look at what Everton should expect from their newly promoted opposition.
| Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Accrington Stanley | The Wham Stadium | 1-1 |
| Blackburn | Ewood Park | 1-0 |
| Bournemouth | MetLife Stadium (Everton designated as home) | 0-3 |
| West Ham | Soldier Field (Everton designated as away) | 2-1 |
| Man United | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Everton designated as away) | 2-2 |
| Roma | Hill Dickinson Stadium | 0-1 |
Leeds’ pre-season results should worry Everton
The Blues have strengthened in the transfer market, with Jack Grealish potentially making his debut against the Whites after agreeing a loan move from Manchester City.
However, given the contrast in form between the sides heading into the season, that may not be enough.
Farke’s side started their preparations with a 0-0 draw against Manchester United in Sweden, in which Sean Longstaff, one of seven new signings, made his debut.
Two behind-closed-doors games followed on their tour of Germany, and they would secure a 4-1 victory over SC Verl and a 3-2 win over Paderborn.
Tougher opposition followed, but the Peacocks held their own to draw 1-1 with both Villarreal and AC Milan.
Everton need to be cautious in Leeds clash
Leeds secured promotion from the Championship with 100 points, winning 29 of their 49 matches in the division.
The top-flight is a tougher test, but this is a squad that knows how to win, and they will be confident to prove that against the Toffees.
What shifts did we see from Farke:
- Added several new set-piece threats, as Leeds struggled with them last season
- Adopted a 4-3-3 instead of 4-2-3-1, resulting in a more solid midfield
They have made some top-quality additions; left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson looks like a really tidy player and could cause problems for Dwight McNeil.
The Blues will have to be cautious from set-pieces as their opposition have added the likes of Jaka Bijol, Anton Stach and Sebastian Bornauw.
Former Manchester City academy striker Lukas Nmecha scored in pre-season after signing for the LS11 outfit on a free transfer, so he may be the danger man.
However, the real standout from their business so far is German midfielder Stach, who already looks like an experienced top-flight star, despite not playing a single minute in the competition.
Standing at a massive 6’4, the former Hoffenheim man is composed in and out of possession. He won the most duels of any Leeds player, and completed more recoveries than any of his teammates in the Milan draw.
The Blues have endured difficult times in recent seasons in front of goal, and given the additions that the Whites have made in defensive areas, they may have a tough time overcoming Farke’s side.
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