Leeds United are off and running in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Everton, thanks to Lukas Nmecha’s penalty.
United were made to wait until last this opening Premier League weekend, hosting Everton at Elland Road under the lights.
It was a chance for Leeds to stamp their mark on the season ahead with a positive result, against an Everton side also in need of late window recruitment.
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Leeds United 1-0 Everton: Lukas Nmecha penalty wins all three points
For large parts of Leeds’ clash with Everton, it looked a similar matchup to United’s Championship endeavours, dominating the ball, creating plenty of openings and limiting the opposition to virtually nothing.
The second half brought Leeds’ deserved breakthrough after both sides enjoyed decent periods of control, when Anton Stach’s shot cannoned off the arm of James Tarkowski, and a penalty was awarded.
Up stepped substitute and debutant Lukas Nmecha to calmly slot beyond Jordan Pickford, who went the right way but was well beaten.
(Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough)
United held on for a crucial home win to kick off the campaign, a deserved win too.
Daniel Farke issues key Ethan Ampadu update
A worrying sour note from the evening’s victory was Ethan Ampadu being forced off through injury.
A forceful late tackle from Tim Iroegbunam left the Leeds skipper in a heap, needing treatment but soldiering on for a further 20 minutes before being replaced by Ilia Gruev shortly before the game’s opening goal.
Post-match, Daniel Farke gave an update, sharing that the Welshman has a “big bruise” on his ankle, per Adam Pope:
Big bruise for Ampadu who will need assessing ahead of Arsenal game #LUFC
— Adam Pope (@apopey) August 18, 2025
Massive win for Leeds United on their Premier League return
To a man. Leeds were outstanding today and that was some way to announce our return to the Premier League.
We had a solid Everton team pinned for the majority of that game, and they barely had a sniff at Lucas Perri’s goal.
The pressure to get off the mark early has been lifted now, and that was some win to kick things off.
Hopefully Ampadu’s injury is a minor one because he was a man mountain in midfield – but what else is new from the captain?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!