Leeds United picked up a 1-0 win over Everton on Monday night as The Whites made their Premier League return after a two-year hiatus, but attention quickly turns to Saturday.
Daniel Farke’s 50th career appearance as a manager in the Premier League resulted in his seventh top-tier win. A controversial penalty the difference, Anton Stach’s shot was blocked by James Tarkowski’s arm.
Much debate has been made over whether it was a penalty, but referee Chris Kavanagh gave the spot-kick on-field and VAR did not see reason to overturn it. Sub Lukas Nmecha drove the ball into the net.
It sees Leeds sit in seventh place in the Premier League after gameweek 1, but attention quickly turns to Saturday and the second round of fixtures. Farke takes Leeds to title contenders Arsenal in North London.
Simon Grayson during his time as Fleetwood manager.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Simon Grayson thinks Daniel Farke could make change at Arsenal
Already, Leeds’ second game of the season is just four days away with Farke’s men in action on Saturday evening against last term’s second-placed Arsenal. An incredibly tough game for Leeds away from home.
Simon Grayson spoke to LUTV after the game and after Leeds controlled the ball against Everton, he feels Leeds will play on the counter in London – and that could see Joel Piroe replaced by Nmecha on Saturday.
Joel Piroe in action for Leeds against Everton.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
“What they will have done a lot in pre-season is working on the defensive shape out of possession. When they go to the big clubs, they won’t be able to be expansive. They might sit back and play on the counter.
“Personnel may change. Nmecha may have done enough because of his energy and pace, he might come in at the weekend, purely on a counter-attack basis, because we won’t have much of the ball,” he said.
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Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha or even, Dominic Calvert-Lewin?
On Monday, new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin was nowhere to be seen with the England star having only signed last Friday. The former Everton man has not had a pre-season with a club this summer.
Lukas Nmecha celebrates scoring Leeds' winner against Everton.
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So it was perhaps no surprise that Farke did not include Calvert-Lewin in his squad. But after a full week of training, Calvert-Lewin may be in the squad on the weekend. But who starts up front – Piroe or Nmecha?
Leeds’ £16m signing Piroe did not have a bad game, some nice touches. He did well enough, working hard as Leeds’ first line of defence. But, Nmecha looked more effective and on the counter, that is crucial.