Leeds United head into Tuesday's fixture with Everton looking to strengthen their hold of a place in the top six of the Premier League standings.
While the Toffees make the trip to Elland Road unbeaten in their last two outings, they are yet to record a league win during 2022-23.
Match preview
© Reuters
Such has been Leeds' performances during the opening weeks that their supporters would have backed their club to end Brighton & Hove Albion's unbeaten record at the weekend.
However, the Yorkshire giants were outplayed by their hosts at the Amex Stadium, arguably being fortunate to only succumb by a 1-0 scoreline to a team who could emerge as rivals for a top-10 position later in the campaign.
Jesse Marsch will keep things in perspective with seven points from a possible 12 more than respectable ahead of a double-header with Everton and Brentford.
That said, expectation levels are on the rise at Elland Road with no concerns over any kind of a relegation battle this time around.
Leeds have played three games at their home ground in all competitions this campaign, scoring at least twice in each of them and netting eight times in total.
© Reuters
In sharp contrast, Everton are yet to score more than once in any of their five outings this season, a consequence of their struggles to get a frontline forward on the pitch.
That should change now that Neal Maupay has been signed from Brighton & Hove Albion, while Salomon Rondon is still an option while Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Nevertheless, it is up to other players to step up as well, and Everton have been reliant on Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon netting their goals against Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively.
The saga involving Gordon and Chelsea may go on until the final day of the transfer window, even if Frank Lampard insists that he is reaching a point where a resolution needs to be found one way or another.
Whether it is with Gordon in his squad until January or another £50m+ at his disposal before Thursday's deadline, Lampard needs every tool possible to try to move Everton away from the relegation zone over the coming weeks.
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
- D
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
Team News
© Reuters
Lampard must decide whether to hand an immediate debut to Maupay, who has arrived at Goodison Park without any game time this campaign.
The Frenchman is an alternative to Dwight McNeil in the final third, while there could be a change in defence with Mason Holgate having picked up a knock at the weekend.
Having slowly built up his fitness, big-money arrival Amadou Onana started both games against Fleetwood Town and Brentford, and Lampard may opt to recall Tom Davies for this fixture.
Although Marsch was left unhappy with Leeds' performance on the South Coast, the American is unlikely to make widespread changes to his team.
An unchanged starting lineup remains a possibility, although Luis Sinisterra will feel that he is in line to make his first start in the Premier League.
While Patrick Bamford may be an option after a groin injury, the forward will only feature among the replacements at best.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Struijk; Roca, Adams; James, Aaronson, Harrison; Rodrigo
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Keane, Coady, Tarkowski; Patterson, Davies, Iwobi, Mykolenko; Gordon, Maupay, Gray
We say: Leeds United 2-0 Everton
Now that they have another frontline striker in their ranks, Everton will be more optimistic about performing in the final third. Nevertheless, we cannot back against Leeds in this fixture, who already have three successive wins at Elland Road this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
