Athletic journalist: Everton held talks with Leeds over potential friendly before PL restart

Athletic journalist: Everton held talks with Leeds over potential friendly before PL restart

Mark Smith

Mark is the second-longest serving member of the Breaking Media team, rising through the ranks from writer to deputy editor. Mark is a highly skilled editor, with a particular expertise in headline writing, and finger on the pulse for trending content that fans love to read about. Mark graduated from Leeds Trinity University in 2018, and is based in Wakefield. He has covered Goodison News throughout his time at the company, chronicling Everton's financial turmoil and recovery under the Friedkin Group, and the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium from Goodison Park.

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Talks between Leeds United and Everton have collapsed over a potential friendly match before next week's Premier League restart.

The Athletic's Phil Hay has detailed talks between the two didn't work out with both sides yet to play another side in a friendly.

Everton welcome Liverpool to Goodison Park a week on Sunday, the same day in which Leeds travel to Cardiff City.

Everton

Hay commented on Leeds' plans on Saturday afternoon, as the Whites played a friendly among their own squad.

"They did discuss one with Everton but it didn’t work out," he wrote on his personal Twitter account.

It was confirmed by the Liverpool Echo that Everton did exactly the same at Goodison Park, as Carlo Ancelotti's squad continue their preparation.

Everton

It would have been great preparations for Everton if they could have faced the Championship leaders who are in great form.

Other sides such as West Ham, Arsenal and Manchester United have all played friendlies against near-rivals and it could be the difference between hitting the ground running and not.

Everton obviously welcome Liverpool, and that is the hardest game that they could have had, let's hope this decision doesn't come back to haunt the Toffees.

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