Leeds United marked their Premier League return with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Elland Road, thanks to a late penalty from debutant Lukas Nmecha.
In a game where Daniel Farke’s side dominated possession and chances, they were eventually rewarded in the 81st minute when James Tarkowski was penalised for handball. Nmecha, introduced as a substitute, stepped up to convert confidently from the spot.
Leeds had carried the greater threat throughout, with Joel Piroe, Wilfried Gnonto, and Ao Tanaka all testing Jordan Pickford, while Everton struggled to gain any rhythm in attack. Lucas Perri, making his debut in goal, was rarely called into action.
For Leeds, it was the ideal start to life back in the top flight, securing three points and a clean sheet in front of a raucous home crowd. Everton, meanwhile, left West Yorkshire frustrated, offering little going forward and undone by a defensive lapse at a crucial moment.
This win not only gives Leeds early momentum but also underlines the resilience and structure that Daniel Farke has instilled. With a daunting run of fixtures ahead, starting with a trip to Arsenal, beginning the season with maximum points could prove vital.
Story Of The Match
Daniel Farke handed full debuts to Lucas Perri, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Anton Stach, with Leeds’ bench including new signing Nmecha alongside Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson.
For Everton, new arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall started in midfield, while Beto led the line. With Vitaliy Mykolenko unavailable, James Garner filled in at left-back, and Michael Keane partnered James Tarkowski in central defence. Jack Grealish had to settle for a place on the bench.
First Half
Elland Road was electric from kick-off, and Leeds responded by flying out of the blocks. Joel Piroe had the game’s first big chance in the fourth minute, forcing Jordan Pickford into a smart save after being played through by Gnonto. The resulting corner was eventually smothered by the England goalkeeper, but it set the tone.
For the opening 15 minutes, almost half of Leeds’ attacks came in Everton’s defensive third, with the Toffees struggling to retain the ball. Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu bossed the midfield, while Gnonto caused consistent problems down the flank. Tanaka fired wide from distance midway through the half, before Gudmundsson’s deflected strike was clawed away by Pickford in the 37th minute. Gnonto rounded off the first-half action with a curling effort that sailed narrowly over.
Pressure Starts To Grow
The second half began in similar fashion, with Tanaka quickly dispossessing Dewsbury-Hall to set up Gnonto, whose shot was well saved. Everton’s first real chance arrived shortly after as Iliman Ndiaye teed up Idrissa Gana Gueye, but his shot dragged wide.
As Leeds pressed for the opener, tempers flared. Tim Iroegbunam was booked for a reckless tackle on Ampadu, while Alcaraz entered the book for dissent soon after. Farke introduced Brenden Aaronson for Gnonto, while Moyes countered by throwing on Jack Grealish.
Perri was finally called into action again in the 76th minute, parrying a driven effort from Alcaraz after good work by Dewsbury-Hall. Leeds then made a triple change, bringing on Nmecha, Harrison, and Gruev. Within minutes, their persistence was rewarded.
The Breakthrough
In the 81st minute, Elland Road erupted as referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after Tarkowski handled Stach’s deflected shot. Nmecha, making his debut, stepped up with confidence and rifled the penalty beyond Pickford to make it 1-0.
Everton pushed late on, but never looked like breaking through a disciplined Leeds defence. Farke’s side held on through five minutes of stoppage time, with Tanaka replaced by Sean Longstaff after an impressive display in midfield.
Player Of The Match - Ao Tanaka
The Japanese international was outstanding, dictating the tempo in midfield and breaking up Everton’s rare counterattacks. His vision and energy provided the platform for Leeds to dominate, while his composure in possession ensured Farke’s side remained on the front foot. Tanaka’s all-action performance epitomised Leeds’ return to the Premier League in style.