Leeds United got off to a winning start on their return to the Premier League, even if it was in controversial circumstances, as The Whites beat Everton to win 1-0 at Elland Road on Monday night.
Two new Leeds signings were crucial to the goal. Leeds’ most-expensive outlay of the summer, in £19.9m arrival Anton Stach, attempted a shot from 25 yards out and James Tarkowski blocked it with his arm.
Tarkowski’s arm was in a natural position, but he was moving towards the ball and ultimately, it is his arm that stops a shot from going on goal. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher agree that it was the right call.
But Alan Shearer and Micah Richards don’t think it was a penalty. However, Leeds did dominate with Everton boss David Moyes admitting Leeds were the better side as five new signings made their debut.
Lucas Perri, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Stach started. The other new signing key to the goal was Lukas Nmecha, who came off the bench to blast the ball past Jordan Pickford. Sean Longstaff also came on.
Pundit Chris Sutton speaks prior to Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
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Chris Sutton rates Leeds’ transfer window with ninth signing close
So far, Leeds have spent £80m on eight signings, though two have not cost a penny in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha. Sebastiaan Bornauw was an unused sub on Monday and Jaka Bijol was suspended.
A ninth is about to be announced, with Leeds agreeing a deal of around £18m for Milan’s Noah Okafor. Okafor has been spotted on a plane, heading for Yorkshire. So, have Leeds had a good window so far?
Chris Sutton gave his verdict on the Monday Night Club: “Both Norwich teams he [Farke] took up were flimsy. I wonder if that’s part of the decision-making at Leeds. There’s nothing that really leaps out at you.
Daniel Farke during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
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“They haven’t made a massive signing but it’s about defensively strong and set-plays are a huge part of football. They need to be resilient and deal with that. It’s smart management,” Sutton added on MNC.
“But it’s interesting to see what they’ve done. I still think they have their work cut out to remain in the Premier League. Farke seems to have learnt that his players need to be more battle-hardened.”
The similarities Noah Okafor shares with Leeds’ new signings
It is quite obvious what Leeds are doing. Of the eight signings, seven are over 6ft and Gudmundsson is 5ft 11in, still pretty tall for a left-back. Six of the eight signings have played for their country at least twice.
Only Lucas Perri and Sean Longstaff are yet to win caps, albeit for Brazil and England. Then there is the age of the eight signings Leeds have made. They all range from 26 to 28, with Calvert-Lewin the oldest.
Okafor shares all three traits. He stands at 6ft 1in, which again is tall for a player who largely plays as a winger. He is 27, and boasts 24 Switzerland caps and will have an eye on next summer’s World Cup.