Leeds United returned to Elland Road in the Premier League in style last night, as they put Everton to the sword in a 1-0 victory over David Moyes’ side.
It was a feisty and frenetic start from Daniel Farke’s team, winning duels, being aggressive and putting Everton on the back foot.
The first half was all Leeds, their midfield overrunning Everton’s and wingers Dan James and Willy Gnonto caused the Toffees headaches but without creating any real chances of note.
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At half-time, Moyes will have been relieved to be going in level, but things changed during the second half. The Toffees came out more composed and managed to get their playmakers on the ball more, such as Iliman Ndiaye and Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall.
Lukas Nmecha scored the winning goal on his debut for Leeds
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Despite this, Everton were even more toothless than Leeds, managing just one solitary shot on target, and before they knew it, their spell of dominance was over.
Then, just six minutes from time, a fierce strike from Leeds newbie Anton Stach took a deflection and struck a falling James Tarkowski on the arm, diverting the ball away from goal.
After confirming with his assistant, referee Chris Kavanagh gave the home side a penalty, which was confidently struck into the bottom corner by debutant Lukas Nmecha.
Boss David Moyes and skipper James Tarkowski led the protests against referee Chris Kavanagh after he gave the penalty six minutes from time
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Leeds saw out the remainder of the game for a deserved opening win that left Farke delighted but Moyes disgruntled, aggrieved by the penalty decision.
It has been 17 years since the Championship winners won on the opening Premier League day, and it is only the second time since the conception of the Premier League that two promoted sides have achieved such a feat.
The win announced Leeds back onto the Premier League stage but condemned Everton to a concerning defeat. So with that being said, here are three things we learned from the match.
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Leeds have the foundations for survival
Leeds showed last night that they have the foundations for survival: a dominating, aggressive and intelligent midfield in front of a physical, combative defence and both were up to the task last night and, seemingly, for the Premier League challenge as well.
Add to that a sprinkling of full-backs with intent and quality, wingers with pace and unpredictability, and it could be a winning formula.
Leeds still need additions going forward; the first half made that evident. But their back line and defence overran Everton for much of the game.
New signing Stach slotted in, his stature rising above most midfielders, but quality on the ball not waning. Ethan Ampadu at the base of the midfield with years of experience, despite his age of 24, and the energetic and busy Ao Tanaka - the trio were terrific last night.
To have a consistent yet strong spine is something that promoted sides have struggled with in recent years, but it doesn’t look to be a problem at Elland Road. It’s something that survival can be built on.
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Ao Tanaka was part of a brilliant midfield for Leeds on the night
|REUTERS
David Moyes wasn’t wrong - Everton need more bodies through the door
Everton boss Moyes rebuked a reporter’s question during the off-season’s Premier League Summer Series, claiming his side needed 10 new additions.
After bringing in exciting signings such as Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry, the Toffees boss reiterated his desire to bring in more bodies. Last night we saw why.
After being dominated in the first, Everton were the better side in the second half and held much of the ball, but never did they look like a threat of any kind to Farke’s side. The Toffees produced just one shot on target all game and didn't really look like scoring.
Additions are needed desperately to help Moyes’ side going forward. While new signings Grealish and Barry did enter the field for the final minutes to no avail, just looking at Everton’s bench tells fans everything: quality in depth is not there, and that’s a concern.
Everton’s lack of attacking potency and their difficulties in controlling the game through the midfield show that more players are needed this year for Moyes if they are to kick on from what was a very impressive end to last season.
Leeds’ transfer strategy could have been a master stroke
Farke’s transfer strategy has had one major trend: they’re all enormous. Before the game last night, the Leeds boss said: “Of course we want to play football, it’s not like if you are a giant then you have a good chance to sign for Leeds United. First of all, they are really good football players, but it’s important not to be naive.”
They are good footballers, the few that were on display. When Leeds were on top, they forced Everton into five early corners, with a couple causing some chaos but not converted. Everton never looked like a threat from their offensive set pieces.
Farke recognised how important set pieces can be; Arsenal have shown that. Your side doesn’t have to be playing well to score a set-piece goal, but they have to be dominant in the air; height and strength help with that and Leeds have that in abundance.
But not only are there set pieces, the ball is in the air and up for contention a lot during the course of a football game, and Leeds dominated this last night. Goal kicks, first and second balls, duels - Leeds’ transfer business meant they ruled supreme in this department, so they could win the ball back, keep it and push forward.