Prediction and odds for the game: Leeds (11/8) vs Everton (2/1)

We are backing the draw at odds of 12/5

When: Saturday, 21st August 2021, Kick-off 15:00

Where: Elland Road

On Saturday afternoon, Leeds United hosts Everton at Elland Road, in what promises to be an intriguing Premier League encounter.

Leeds

The Yorkshire outfit kicked off the new Premier League campaign with a 5-1 hammering at old enemy Manchester United. However, this game is likely to be a very different animal with a packed full house expected at Elland Road, with the fans returning to the stadium for the first time since March 2020.

The opening weekend defeat ended a four-game winning run for Leeds dating back to last season, as they won their last four games of the league campaign and leapfrogged the visitors in the table on the final day.

The Yorkshire outfit are strong on home soil and head into this encounter on the back of six league games without a defeat at Elland Road, having recorded three wins and three draws.

Last season the Whites won 1-0 at Goodison Park, but then suffered a 2-1 defeat in this fixture. The results suggest that there isn’t much between the two teams.

Everton

The Toffees opened the Rafa Benitez era with a 3-1 home win over Southampton, with Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin getting on the scoresheet. It was the start the former Liverpool head coach needed to get the backing of the Everton faithful.

Everton ended last season in inconsistent form in the Premier League, as the Merseysider’s slipped out of the reckoning for the European spots and ended up finishing tenth place in the table under Carlo Ancelotti. Everybody connected with the club will hope that their team can launch another top-four challenge.

The Toffees away form last season was particularly eye-catching. They recorded 11 wins on their travels in the Premier League, suffering just four defeats in the process. It remains to be seen what effect the crowds returning will have on the visitors away record this season, though.

The visitors achieved their opening game result without James Rodriguez, Moise Kean, Jean Philippe-Gbamin, Ben Godfrey and Andre Gomes, who were all isolating due to Covid-19. Even if fit James Rodriguez looks unlikely to feature, with ongoing speculation over his future on Merseyside. Godfrey is the most likely of the players to return to the starting line-up.

Conclusion

This could be a fascinating tactical battle between two very astute tacticians in Leeds Marcelo Bielsa and his counterpart. The game could go either, but we are backing the game to finish all square. The other bet we are backing is for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 11/8. The England striker looked sharp against Southampton and will be confident of adding to his burgeoning Everton goal tally.

Our Picks: We are backing the draw at odds of 12/5 and/or Dominic Calvert-Lewin to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 11/8. (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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Who will come out on top between Bielsa and Benitez at Elland Road?