Yorkshire | Leeds United win on return to Premier League

Leeds United 1 - 0 Everton

A Nmecha penalty crowned Leeds Premier League return against Everton

Author | Oliver W

Stadium | Elland Road

Leeds United marked their Premier League return with victory as Lukas Nmecha’s late penalty sealed a deserved win over Everton at Elland Road.

Daniel Farke’s side were in control for long spells but appeared destined for only a point until James Tarkowski handled Anton Stach’s strike six minutes from time. Nmecha stepped up with composure, firing past Jordan Pickford to spark wild celebrations in a typically fervent Yorkshire crowd.

Everton, flat for much of the contest, offered little in attack and registered their first effort on target after 53 minutes. Jack Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, was introduced for the final 20 minutes but could not lift David Moyes’s side.

Leeds faded as the second half wore on and the match seemed set for stalemate, yet Nmecha’s intervention ensured an opening-night triumph that underlined the promise of their top-flight return.

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Perfect start for Leeds United

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke had promised before kick-off that his side would stay faithful to the attacking principles that carried them back into the Premier League, and his players delivered.

They pinned Everton deep inside their own half for much of the opening 45 minutes, though only one of their 12 attempts found the target.

The fear at half-time was whether Leeds could sustain such intensity, with the energy of a charged Elland Road atmosphere driving them on.

It seemed as though their dominance would yield just a point until James Tarkowski’s late handball, confirmed by VAR, brought the decisive penalty.

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View from the Everton end at Elland Road

Everton manager David Moyes looked frustrated throughout a difficult night as his side struggled to keep possession and offered little in attack. It took 53 minutes for Idrissa Gueye to register a shot, while Jack Grealish could not revive a lifeless performance in his 20-minute cameo. 

Moyes has highlighted the need for reinforcements and this display at Elland Road underlined that requirement, with right-back, wide-right and midfield positions all in urgent need of strengthening.