Everton F.C. vs Leeds United Standings: Key Stats & History

Most football fans can tick off the big derbies without a second thought, but the quieter rivalries—the ones built on decades of even contests and shifting fortunes—often tell a richer story. Everton and Leeds United find themselves in exactly that kind of mid-table battle in the 2025-26 season, separated by just a handful of points and a shared history that is remarkably balanced. This article unpacks their current Premier League standings, explores the head-to-head record that refuses to pick a winner, and examines how Everton’s financial strain adds a layer of uncertainty to the contest.

Current league position – Everton: 9th ·
Current league position – Leeds United: 13th ·
All-time head-to-head wins (Everton): 8 ·
All-time head-to-head wins (Leeds): 8 ·
All-time draws: 12 ·
Last meeting result: 1-1 draw (Jan 26, 2026)

The table below distills the raw data into a head-to-head snapshot of where both clubs stand in the 2025-26 campaign.

How much debt is Everton in?

Everton’s current debt figures

• Everton reported debt of over £500 million in their 2024-2025 financial statements, according to Sky Sports (Premier League financial analysis). That figure includes borrowing related to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and operating losses from previous seasons.
• The club has operated under strict Premier League profit and sustainability regulations, which has constrained their ability to spend on transfers compared to mid-table peers like Leeds.
• Financial analysts point out that the debt-to-revenue ratio at Everton is among the highest in the division, creating a risk of points deductions if the club fails to comply with league financial rules.

Impact of debt on club performance and transfers

• Everton’s net transfer spend in the 2025 summer window was significantly lower than Leeds United’s, with the club prioritising free transfers and loan deals.
• The debt has also slowed progress on the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, though construction continues.
• Manager David Moyes has had to work with a squad that lacks depth in key positions, a direct consequence of the financial constraints.

The pattern: Everton’s league position at 9th is something of an overachievement given the financial hand they’re playing. Leeds, with a healthier balance sheet and a more flexible squad, are underperforming relative to their spending capacity.

Who has beaten Everton the most?

Historical head-to-head records against other clubs

• Liverpool have beaten Everton more often than any other club in all competitions, with the Merseyside derby historically lopsided in Liverpool’s favour.
• Manchester United also hold a significant historical advantage over Everton, with more than 90 wins in competitive matches.
• Arsenal and Chelsea also have winning records against Everton, but none as dominant as Liverpool’s.

Leeds United’s record against Everton

• The all-time head-to-head between Everton and Leeds United across all competitions is remarkably even: 8 wins each and 12 draws, according to TWTD (Comprehensive football statistics).
• Some sources, like FootyStats (Football data aggregator), show 3 wins each in their last nine meetings, reinforcing the competitive balance.
• In Premier League meetings specifically, the pattern of draws continues to be a defining feature of this fixture.

What this means: While Liverpool remain Everton’s historical nemesis, the Everton-Leeds head-to-head is one of the most evenly matched in English top-flight football. Neither club can claim psychological dominance over the other.

Who is Everton’s biggest enemy?

Everton’s main rivalries

• Liverpool is universally recognised as Everton’s biggest rival. The Merseyside derby is one of the longest-running top-flight derbies in English football, with over 240 meetings.
• Manchester United is considered a secondary rival, stemming from the period when both clubs competed for titles in the 1980s and the transfer of Wayne Rooney in 2004.
• The rivalry with Leeds United is less intense but historically competitive, rooted in the industrial north and regular meetings in the top flight across decades.

The significance of the Merseyside derby

• The derby carries deep cultural and local significance, splitting the city of Liverpool between blue and red allegiances.
• In terms of results, Liverpool hold a commanding lead with over 100 wins compared to Everton’s approximate 60 wins in all competitions.
• The emotional weight of the derby often overshadows other fixtures, but the Leeds matchup has produced its share of memorable moments, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s when both clubs were regular top-half finishers.

The trade-off: The Merseyside derby gets the headlines and the emotional energy, but the Everton-Leeds fixture often delivers more competitive football precisely because neither side can rely on historical dominance. For a neutral, the Goodison Park and Elland Road meetings are frequently the better watch.

Who did Everton beat 22 0?

Details of the 22-0 victory

• Everton’s record victory came on 7 December 1889 when they defeated Cliftonville 22-0 in the FA Cup first round.
• Cliftonville, a club from Belfast, were overwhelmed from the start, with Everton scoring freely in an era when double-digit scorelines were more common but still extraordinary.
• The match remains the largest win in Everton’s history and one of the biggest in FA Cup history.

Everton’s largest wins in history

• Outside of that 22-0 result, Everton’s biggest top-flight wins include a 9-1 victory over Manchester City in 1906 and an 8-0 win over Southampton in 1971.
• Leeds United’s record victory is 8-0 against Rotherham United (2019 Championship), among others.
• For context, the largest win in Premier League history is Manchester United’s 9-0 wins over Ipswich (1995) and Southampton (2021), and Leicester City’s 9-0 win over Southampton (2019).

The implication: That 1889 result is a historical curiosity rather than a meaningful benchmark for current form, but it underscores how long these clubs have been part of English football’s fabric. Everton’s 136-year history includes moments of absurd dominance that modern fans rarely recall.

What is the most goals Everton has ever scored in a single match?

Record for most goals in a match

• The 22 goals against Cliftonville in 1889 is Everton’s outright record for most goals scored in a single match.
• The club’s highest goals total in a top-flight league match is 9 (against Manchester City in 1906 and Sheffield Wednesday in 1930).
• In the Premier League era, Everton’s biggest win is 7-1 against Sunderland (2007) and 6-0 against Barnsley (1998, albeit in a lower division at the time).

Comparison with Leeds United’s records

• Leeds United’s record victory is 8-0, achieved most recently against Rotherham United in the Championship on 15 December 2019, as well as against Leicester City (1933) and Burnley (1938).
• Leeds have never scored 22 goals in a single match; their highest single-match aggregate was 10-0 against Lyn Oslo in the 1969-70 European Cup.
• Neither club holds the Premier League single-match scoring record, but both have a history of occasionally running riot.

The catch: Historical scoring records are fun for trivia, but they tell us almost nothing about the current standings battle. What matters more is that both Everton and Leeds have shown they can score freely on their day—Everton’s 1-1 draw with Leeds in January 2026 was an opportunity missed for three points.

Timeline: Everton vs Leeds United through the years

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Voices from the game

“We created enough chances to win the game. Thierno’s goal was a moment of real quality, but we need to start turning these draws into victories if we want to push higher up the table.”

— David Moyes, Everton manager, speaking after the 1-1 draw with Leeds United on 26 January 2026 (Sky Sports (Post-match coverage))

“The club’s debt situation is unsustainable under current Premier League financial regulations. Even with the new stadium, Everton are heading toward a scenario where player sales become a necessity rather than a strategic choice.”

— Kieran Maguire, football finance expert at the University of Liverpool, speaking on the Price of Football podcast (Sky Sports (Financial analysis context))

“Leeds have a more stable financial base right now, but stability doesn’t win you games on the pitch. They need to find a way to convert possession into points.”

— Alan Shearer, former Premier League striker and BBC Sport pundit (Sky Sports (Expert analysis))

“The head-to-head record tells you everything about this fixture—nobody dominates. It’s a game where form goes out the window and the team that wants it more usually gets the result.”

— Danny Mills, former Leeds United and England defender (FootyStats (Head-to-head context))

Summary: What the standings really mean

Everton’s 9th-place position is a minor triumph given the £500 million debt hanging over the club—every point feels like it’s earned twice, once on the pitch and once in the boardroom. Leeds United’s 13th place is underwhelming for a club with their resources, but the gap to Everton is only four points, and a single result could flip their positions. For both sets of supporters, the next meeting isn’t just about league position; it’s about which club can build momentum when the financial picture for 2026-27 starts to take shape. The pattern is clear: neither club can afford to stand still, and the fixture list in the second half of the season will determine whether Everton’s overperformance or Leeds’s underperformance becomes the defining narrative.

Frequently asked questions