Leeds United secured all three points in their first game, but the crucial moment came after Daniel Farke’s side were awarded a penalty, which Lukas Nmecha scored for The Whites.
Everton were expected to provide stern competition for Leeds on Monday night. Before the game, Paul Merson predicted an Everton win while Peter Crouch believed Leeds would get a draw against Everton.
Yet, Leeds dominated the first half and ultimately, deserved to win the game even if the winning goal came controversially. Anton Stach’s deflected shot hit James Tarkowski’s arm, which was down by his side.
The penalty was given on-field, with Tarkowski leaning into Stach’s effort at goal and VAR agreed. Plenty have discussed the decision and on Sky Sports, both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have their say.
Gary Neville on Sky Sports punditry.
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Neville and Carragher in agreement over Leeds penalty decision
In their analysis on Sky Sports, both Carragher and Neville believe a penalty was the correct decision and Neville even suggested that Tarkowski looked guilty when arguing the decision given by the referee.
Carragher: “I think it is [a handball]. I think he knows what he’s doing, James Tarkowski. It’s something I would do. The only thing is, has he lost his bearings? It’s a split-second decision. Maybe it’s just reflexes.
Jamie Carragher during punditry duties.
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Neville: “I think it’s definitely a penalty. James Tarkowski is the type of defender that feels he needs to get in the way of every single shot. He maybe could have composed himself and let it go through to Pickford.
“The guilt is written all over his face, he knows it’s a penalty. He’s blocked it in from such a distance. He’s moved his arm towards the ball, he leans towards it, he blocks it, he knows it’s a penalty. You just know.”
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What David Moyes and James Tarkowski said about the decision
David Moyes was not happy in his post-match comments, and even said he had been in to talk to the referee in search of an explanation. He says the referee gave a penalty due to Tarkowski leaning over.
“The goal is completely wrong, really harsh. I’ve spoken to the referee. They seem to think he was leaning. You’re allowed to lean. It took a deflection. Did Tarky have to get his arm chopped off? He leaned across?
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Tarkowski echoed his manager’s frustration: “Not a penalty. As soon as the ref blew, I was pretty confident it would be overturned. My question to him was ‘if my arm is by my side, was it a penalty’. He said ‘no’.”
Despite the awarding of the penalty and the way in which the deadlock was broken, Leeds did deserve to win all three points. A crucial win, with tough games against Arsenal away and Newcastle at home, next.