A catalyst and method of forming a catalyst for use in aromatic alkylation involves treating a zeolite, which may be a ZSM-5 zeolite, with a phosphorus-containing compound. The phosphorus-treated zeolite is combined with a binder material. The bound phosphorus-treated zeolite is treated with an aqueous solution of a hydrogenating metal compound by contacting the bound phosphorus-treated zeolite with the aqueous solution and separating the aqueous solution from the bound phosphorus-treated zeolite to form a hydrogenating-metal-containing zeolite catalyst. The catalyst may be used in preparing an alkyl aromatic product by contacting a hydrogenating-metal-containing zeolite catalyst with an aromatic alkylation feed of an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation.