George Overhill

Fri 17 February 2023 10:10, UK

Mark Lawrenson has predicted the crunch meeting between Leeds United and Everton at the wrong end of the Premier League to end all square.

The two sides come into the game at what the former Liverpool defender expects to be an “absolutely electric” Goodison Park on Saturday (18 February) separated by just a place and a point in the top flight.

Both Frank Lampard and Jesse Marsch were sacked within two weeks of each other for leading their respective sides into those positions, but while the former has been replaced by Sean Dyche the latter’s job is still in the caretaker hands of Michael Skubala, and Lawrenson doesn’t expect the pressure to be lifted of either with a 1-1 draw this time out.

For his Paddy Power predictions this week Lawrenson said: “This is a huge game for Everton and Leeds, the atmosphere at Goodison will be absolutely electric. I was at the Merseyside derby on Monday night and Everton didn’t really pose a threat but they could have taken the lead when they hit the post then Liverpool went right down the other end and scored and that changed the whole game.

“They’ve got fight but they need Dominic Calvert-Lewin back and fit really badly. We know what Leeds are like, they’ll give everything so I think this might be another draw. Everton 1-1 Leeds.”

Tight

Both sides know that the psychological boost and the three points over their opponents could strike a major blow in the relegation battle, while errors could prove to be devastating.

That may lead to a tense and nervy meeting, which given the respective seasons the two struggling clubs are having might also be lacking in quality.

However, on paper the Whites would seem to have a lot more in their armoury if they can be organised in the right fashion by Skubala, who has shown some improvement on his predecessor in two games against Manchester United.

Leeds United spent heavily in the January transfer window to land Max Wober, Georginio Rutter, and Weston McKennie, which is a haul Everton fans could only dream of as their own January window ended with nobody arriving.

So if the Whites players can quieten the home crowd and get on top there is surely the quality in this squad to record a long-awaited win.

Not since 5 November has this side managed that in the league, so it would break a highly-unwanted streak at this point.

It would also provide the fans greater confidence that the club is in a safe pair of hands with Skubala while the board struggles to replace Jesse Marsch in what has turned out to be another slog of a campaign.

In other Leeds United news, click here to see breaking, around-the-clock updates on Leeds’ search for a new manager in our interactive live blog.

Be sure to follow MOT Leeds News on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest, breaking news from Elland Road.