Largie Ramazani in action for Leeds United
(Credit: Imago)
Niall Togher
Tue 19 August 2025 16:10, UK
Elland Road was rocking as Daniel Farke guided Leeds United to a 1-0 win against Everton on Monday night.
The Whites needed to begin their Premier League campaign on a positive note, with a home fixture against Everton the type of game that Leeds must aim to win if they want to avoid the drop.
Leeds were the better side for the vast majority of the game, but seemingly lacked that bit of quality in the final third.
That was until James Tarkowski blocked Anton Stach’s goal-bound effort with his arm late on, and United were awarded a penalty that debutant Lukas Nmecha coolly dispatched from a rare spot-kick.
As the dust settles from a memorable Monday evening, MOT Leeds News picks out some winners and losers from the match.
Daniel Farke celebrates a Leeds win whilst at Elland Road.
Farke’s men picked up a valuable three points against Everton (Credit: Imago)
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Sensational Anton Stach must continue to start going forward
Stach impressed in pre-season against AC Milan, and the German midfielder was exceptional again against Everton.
Whilst Paraag Marathe admitted that more signings are still to come before the window slams shut before the game, the depth Farke has at his disposal in midfield is really healthy.
This makes it vital that those who get the nod to start must impress to keep their spot, and Stach certainly did that.
Stat Stach
Minutes 90
Passes (completed) 59 (47)
Chances created 4
Shots (on target) 4 (1)
Long balls (accurate) 5 (4)
Ground duels (won) 7 (3)
Stach was superb against Everton
Despite it being his debut, Stach looked like a grizzled veteran of the Premier League, influencing the game at both ends of the pitch, and if the 26-year-old continues to perform like that, then Sean Longstaff will have his work cut out to break into the starting XI.
Largie Ramazani looks finished at Leeds after Farke snub
Despite impressing in the limited gametime he has been afforded in West Yorkshire, Ramazani has never fully been fancied by Farke, and this was proven to be the case last night.
With game level, Farke opted to substitute on Brenden Aaronson out position on the wing as well as Jack Harrison, brutally showing Ramazani where he stands in the pecking order at Leeds.
Whilst the Belgian is far and away a better player than Harrison or Aaronson going forward, it is clear that Farke does not trust Ramazani to pull his weight from a defensive aspect, as that can be the only logical explanation.
With Noah Okafor also on the verge of joining Leeds, this could be the final nail in the coffin for Ramazani at United.
Nmecha to earn start against Arsenal after penalty heroics
Whilst Joel Piroe looked promising when the ball was at his feet, the minute the game became more physical and direct, the Dutchman struggled to adapt.
When Nmecha was subbed on in the 78th minute, we saw him offer more physicality up top as Leeds needed more of a presence to lead the line.
The penalty he emphatically buried into the bottom corner won’t hurt his chances of starting against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, either, with the tough away fixture seemingly suiting his qualities more than Piroe’s.
Jaka Bijol may have to wait to make Leeds debut
Bijol was forced to miss the game against Everton through suspension after being sent off on the final day of the Serie A campaign for Udinese.
Given how comfortable Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk were as they limited Beto to being a spectator during the game, Farke could opt to keep his centre-back pairing unchanged when the Whites take on Arsenal at the weekend.
Throwing the Slovenian centre-back into make his debut in such a high-profile would be a baptism of fire, and Farke may choose to integrate his new signing further down the line.
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