Piroe To Start? | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Leeds United Lineup To Face Everton | OneFootball

Leeds United will begin their Premier League campaign by hosting Everton at Elland Road on Monday night. The newcomers are not done yet in the summer window, but Daniel Farke, the Whites boss, has so far assembled a squad of youth and experience in their battle for top-flight survival over the next ten months.

The Toffees, on the other hand, received a significant transfer boost as they roped in Jack Grealish from Manchester City on a season-long loan. David Moyes restored stability last season after a couple of seasons of relegation fight, and the club have backed the manager this summer with a spending of around £80m already on Carlos Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers, Adam Aznou, Tom King and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, their former ‘number 9’, has joined Leeds as a free agent, and it remains to be seen whether the Englishman makes a difference in West Yorkshire.

Predicted 4-2-3-1 Leeds United Lineup To Face Everton

Defence

Farke has brought in Lucas Perri, who is expected to replace Illan Meslier between the sticks. The Frenchman is no longer in the manager’s plans and could be on the move, with Karl Darlow being the understudy to the former Lyon custodian.

LEEDS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Joel Piroe of Leeds United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ilia Gruev during the pre-season friendly match between Leeds United and Villarreal CF at Elland Road on August 02, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Leeds will be without summer signings Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol in the heart of the backline. Bornauw is ruled out with a calf injury, whereas Bijol is carrying a suspension following his marching order in the final encounter of the previous Serie A campaign. Pascal Struijk might get the nod in central defence alongside Joe Rodon, and the gaffer would hope to have Jayden Bogle back on the right, shaking off a minor fitness concern. Gabriel Gudmundsson, roped in from Lille, must operate from the left ahead of the veteran Sam Byram.

Midfield

Despite snapping up Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach, Farke could rely on skipper Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka as the ‘double pivot’ deep down the midfield. Longstaff must be introduced as a second-half substitute, but Stach, having featured as an advanced playmaker during the pre-season, is likely to get the nod over Brenden Aaronson. Leeds United are chasing Noah Okafor to bolster themselves down the wide, but they have Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto, who should grab the starting status for the time being.

Having won the 2024-25 Championship Golden Boot, Joel Piroe must spearhead the attack, with Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, two of their Bosman recruits, could be involved as ‘super subs’.