Wednesday 3rd February 2021 7.30pm | Elland Road
Leeds United can achieve their second double of the season tonight with victory over Everton having completed the feat for the first time back in the Premier League against Newcastle last week. The teams met at Goodison Park back in November when a 79th minute low, fizzing strike from Raphinha gave Leeds United a surprise victory. It was the Brazilian’s first goal for the club and Leeds first victory in four games. Leeds had a bit of a wobble at the start of the year with defeats to Spurs and Brighton but have hit form again with back to back victories against Newcastle and Leicester. Everton have played the same teams themselves, beating Newcastle 2-1 and drawing with Everton 1-1. After setting the early pace Everton have faded, now eight in the table with just four more points that Leeds but having a game in hand.
Marcelo Bielsa had injury concerns following the Leicester game and will be without Rodrigo who suffered a likely muscle injury at Leicester. Patrick Bamford and Raphinha are were both doubts, Bamford sustained a dead leg on Sunday, while Raphinha strained his but both are fit enough to start against the the Toffees. Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti also has his own issues with goalkeeper Robin Olsen expected to deputise for Jordan Pickford, who hurt a rib while making a save on Saturday. Allan and Jean-Philippe Gbamin remain sidelined for the Toffees but Fabian Delph is back in the squad after injury and he could be joined by new signing Joshua King, if he provides a negative coronavirus test.
This will be the 100th top-flight fixture between the sides. Leeds could complete a league double over Everton for the first time since 1990-91, when they were also a newly-promoted side. Everton have won just one of their past 37 top-flight trips to Elland Road, drawing nine and losing 27. The solitary victory came in November 2002, courtesy of a Wayne Rooney goal. Leeds have won nine of their opening 20 games, the most by a promoted side since Wigan recorded 11 in 2005-06. They have already surpassed their total of eight victories in their previous Premier League season in 2003-04. The Whites have won all three midweek league matches this term, scoring 12 goals. All three of Leeds' home wins have been against sides below them in the table.
The Toffees are looking to win four consecutive away league games for the first time since December 1985. However, they have won just one of their past four matches, drawing once and losing twice. Everton have recorded six victories from nine away fixtures in the league. Carlo Ancelotti's side have 33 points from 19 matches, their most at the halfway stage since 2013-14. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 10 goals in his opening nine league games but has managed just one further strike over his subsequent nine appearances.
Leeds Starting XI
Meslier, Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Raphinha, Klich, Dallas, Harrison, Bamford
Subs: Roberts, Casilla, Costa, Hernández, Davis, Cresswell, Shackleton, Jenkins, Huggins
