Leeds star Lukas Nmecha and supporters singing.
(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media/Imago)
Declan Carr
Tue 19 August 2025 8:10, UK
Lukas Nmecha scored the only goal as Leeds United beat Everton in their opening match of the Premier League season on Monday.
Leeds marked their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over the Toffees, and it was the German who was the difference.
James Tarkowski was judged to have handled in the penalty area, and Nmecha made no mistake from the spot late on, sending the Elland Road crowd into pandemonium.
The likes of Ao Tanaka and Anton Stach impressed on their top-flight debuts, and it was little more than the Whites deserved.
Elland Road
Elland Road was bouncing for the Premier League opener. (Credit: Imago)
Nmecha makes Leeds admission after Elland Road scenes
It was a brilliant performance from Daniel Farke‘s side, and the supporters were a key part, as the Everton players crumbled under the pressure.
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Nmecha admitted that the crowd had an influence on him too, and that he had never witnessed anything like it before.
Speaking to Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports after the contest (18 August, 22:14), he said: “We have amazing fans, it was very loud in here, electric.
“I don’t think I’ve felt something like this before”
Elland Road can be a fortress for Leeds
If Leeds are to stay in the top-flight, they need to turn their home ground into a fortress and win the majority of their games there.
Based on the evidence from the win over the Toffees, they can do exactly that, and there will not be many teams that fancy coming to LS11.
The supporters were in full voice all evening, and they made it as hostile as possible for the Blues stars and drove their team forward.
Leeds deserved their win:
Leeds had 55 per cent of the possession
The Whites had 21 shots to Everton’s seven
Farke’s side created 2.13xG to the Blues’ 0.80
Nmecha was awestruck at the atmosphere, and he is a Leeds player, so imagine what the opposition must feel when they come up against the Whites.
It was the perfect return to the elite level for Farke’s side, but they must ensure that it is not all for nothing at the end of the campaign.
They must make the most of their matches in their stadium, and that would give them some leeway for when they are on the road.
The ultimate ambition is to remain in the top-flight, and if they can make Elland Road as hostile as possible for every game, then they have every chance.
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