Leeds United are planning a huge party to celebrate their return to the Premier League but Everton are ready to gatecrash the Elland Road shindig and spoil the fun.
Daniel Farke’s team won 18 games in front of their own fans last season, drawing four times and losing just the once as they landed the Championship title with 100 points and a superior goal difference to Burnley.
They have spent significantly during the summer with Dominic Calvert-Lewin expected to lead the attack after becoming a free agent following his decision to part company with the Toffees and he is expected to make his debut against his former side.
Everton aren’t expected to flourish this season but it would be folly to write them off as below-par cannon fodder as they finished last term with a respectable 31 points from 18 matches, with the run started with victories over Tottenham, Brighton and Leicester and bookended by success against Fulham, Southampton and Newcastle as they waved farewell to Goodison Park.
Their only defeats were to Liverpool at Anfield, home to Manchester City and away at Chelsea and manager David Moyes has recruited well to strengthen a squad which finished 13th.
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If a few of the draws in the run-in to the campaign can be converted into wins they could easily finish in the top halfand playing at their luxurious new Hill Dickinson home should give Everton an advantage as they seek to return to the distant days when they were a competitive force on the domestic scene.
Everton were average away from home, winning six, drawing the same number and losing seven last season and the key additions of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City with a view to a £50million purchase, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who cost £24m from Chelsea, strengthen a midfield where Idrissa Gueye has the skills to shine.
Grealish may not start against Leeds and the Toffees are also without injured England international Jarrad Branthwaite in the heart of their defence but should still have enough about them to gain a share of the spoils with the draw 12/5 with bet365 and BetVictor and a 1-1 final score 6/1 with the former firm.
Joel Pirloe led the Championship with 19 goals last term and is 5/2 with Betfred, Bresbet and BetGoodwin to score for Leeds at any time in this Premier League opener, while Dewsbury-Hall can celebrate his Everton debut with a goal at 7/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet.
Graham Potter already in peril
Graham Potter was our 12/1 selection with StarSports last week to be the next manager to leave his post and following the Hammers’ 3-0 shellacking at newly promoted Sunderland on Saturday, the former Brighton and Chelsea boss has been cut to just 2/1 with William Hill and BetVictor.
Cricket odds
Oval Invincibles men are 8/11 with William Hill, bet365, Betfred and BoyleSports to beat Southern Brave in Hampshire as they steam towards a successful defence of their title in The Hundred.