(Credit: Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Tue 19 August 2025 15:17, UK

Leeds United’s 1-0 victory over Everton came thanks to several “massive” individual displays in their Premier League opener.

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Daniel Farke‘s side claimed all three points on their return to the top-flight after two seasons away, with Lukas Nmecha‘s 84th-minute penalty proving enough to edge a stubborn Everton side at Elland Road.

A controversial handball given against James Tarkowski proved costly for Everton as Leeds‘ new striker came off the bench to land the killing blow, following a series of standout individual performances.

Left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson was a man-of-the-match contender as he and other new additions like Lucas Perri and Anton Stach also impressed, with the latter a key to Leeds winning the midfield battle alongside Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka.

Daniel Farke got off to a winning start in the Premier League with Leeds (Credit: Imago)

Ampadu went toe-to-toe with Everton’s midfielders and was on the end of a late challenge which Keith Hackett argued could have warranted a red card for Tim Iroegbunam, while Stach was also impervious.

Tanaka, however, was key to Leeds’ pressing of the visitors’ defence and won the ball high up the pitch on several occasions, helping to spark chances which a striker like Noah Okafor could have finished off.

The Japanese international has been extremely good value for the £3.3million Leeds paid to Fortuna Dusseldorf 12 months ago, and Tanaka posted on Instagram at full-time on Monday to celebrate the win.

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Tanaka said: “This is why I came to Europe – massive three points.

After 4 years in Europe I finally made it to the Premier League.

I still have a lot to do but I’ll try harder.”

Wilfried Gnonto also excelled in the first half of Leeds’ victory before his withdrawal midway through the second period, and responded to Tanaka’s message, saying: “Don’t make me cry”.

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Football Insider Verdict

Farke’s first midfield trio of the Premier League era underlined their starting claims against Everton, with Tanaka, Ampadu and Stach all playing their roles to perfection and giving the Toffees no time to rest.

Tanaka’s frequent moves forward to press Everton’s centre-backs alongside Joel Piroe highlights Leeds’ need for a quicker, more aggressive striker, and fans will hope Dominic Calvert-Lewin can adapt to this.

Leeds are close to bringing Okafor to Elland Road with a £17m deal agreed with AC Milan, and with their defence and midfield secure, it’s clear that attacking reinforcements before 1 September can provide the finishing touches.

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