Jake O'Brien has been talking Everton's defeat to Leeds United and this weekend's historic match at Hill Dickinson Stadium
LEEDS, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Jake O'Brien of Everton during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Jake O'Brien of Everton during the Premier League match with Leeds United at Elland Road on August 18, 2025
(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Jake O'Brien has pulled no punches over Everton's performance in their 1-0 defeat at Leeds United. And the defender has vowed the squad will "put things right" in the club's historic first competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Blues made the worst possible start to the season when they were beaten by the newly promoted Whites at Elland Road on Monday night.
David Moyes' men had every reason to feel hard done by the penalty awarded against captain James Tarkowski that led to Lukas Nmecha scoring the winner late on. But O'Brien, who started at right-back, admitted the display was just not up to scratch.
He said: “I think the penalty was very harsh. There's no way he can put his arm in. It's a natural position. He went to block the ball. They took five minutes to look at it and they still couldn't see that.
“Besides this, I think we weren't at it. We weren't where we should be, we weren't sharp enough on the ball or off the ball.
“I think we just need to go back in training, look at ourselves and go again.”
The Everton squad has undergone massive changes this summer and manager David Moyes is keen for more signings to be made in the final 12 days of the transfer window in an effort to improve on last season's 13th-placed finish.
And O’Brien said: “We have a strong group, a strong core, and I think we've got to come to places like this (Elland Road) and come away with three points.
“So it's very disappointing, so early on in the season that we haven't picked up points today.
“I think we have a strong enough group to go out there and get results. And I think we weren't sharp enough and we weren't at the standards that we can be.
“We know this. We said we need to look at ourselves, go back to training and just come back and make things right next week.”
While the focus in the recruitment meetings at Finch Farm this week will be centred on furnishing Moyes' squad, out on the training pitches, the sole aim will be on this Sunday's (August 24) massive match at home to Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm kick-off).
It will be the maiden league fixture the club has played at its magnificent 52,769-capacity new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And O'Brien, speaking to evertontv, said: “We're going to go back and put things right come the weekend and make sure we come away with a result.
“I think we just need to go back, get the fans back on our side and know that we're good enough to come and get results.
“We need to do it early on in the season and not wait too long.”