Leeds beat Everton on return

Leeds United win 1-0 against Everton at Elland Road on their Premier League return, sealed by a late Lukas Nmecha penalty after a handball in the box.

Leeds beat Everton on return to the Premier League with late Nmecha penalty

Leeds United marked their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Everton at Elland Road. The hosts controlled large parts of the match, pressing high and keeping Everton on the back foot. Everton needed 53 minutes to muster a shot on target, underscoring Leeds grip in the game.

Six minutes from the end James Tarkowski handled Anton Stach's shot inside the area, earning a penalty that Lukas Nmecha converted with confidence. The home crowd roared as Leeds sealed the win. Everton added a late substitute appearance from their new loan signing Jack Grealish, but could not find a reply as the final whistle went on a night that belonged to Leeds.

Leeds shows how a team can control a game and still win late. The plan built by Daniel Farke looks well suited to the opponent and the energy of the crowd. The result sets a confident tone for the early weeks of the season.

For Everton the result highlights the challenge of finding balance when a game opens late. A sharp improvement is needed in attack and decision making off the bench. The early clash may affect confidence and shape how teams view Leeds this season.

Highlights

A night that could light a season for Leeds