Leeds United Open Premier League Season with 1-0 Win over Everton

Leeds United began their 2025-26 Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Everton at Elland Road, a result hailed as a 'magic night' by manager Daniel Farke. The winning goal came from Lukas Nmecha, who converted a late penalty awarded for a handball by Everton's James Tarkowski, securing all three points after a dominant performance by Leeds, who had 20 shots to Everton's five. Farke praised his team's control and creativity, particularly highlighting the effectiveness of the new 4-3-3 formation and the strong midfield presence of Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, and Anton Stach. Despite being worried about missed chances, Farke was pleased with the team's first clean sheet and emphasized the importance of a strong start to avoid the immediate relegation fate suffered by many newly promoted sides. The manager also expressed confidence in Nmecha's penalty-taking ability and his overall contribution, noting the positive impact of substitutions that injected fresh energy into the attack. The result was celebrated by the fans and seen as a promising foundation for Leeds' Premier League campaign.