(Credit: Sky Sports)

Oliver Walton

Mon 18 August 2025 22:19, UK

Everton started the new season with a 1-0 loss to newly-promoted Leeds at Elland Road on Monday (18 August) evening.

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Leeds started the much brighter side as they kept Jordan Pickford busy and tested him on numerous occasions, with the England international standing strong despite their constant pressure.

Everton came back into proceedings in the second-half with a lot more control of the ball and action in the hosts’ final third, but they were unable to create real clear-cut chances as Charly Alcaraz’s shot was saved by Perri and Jake O’Brien sent a header over from a corner.

The game changed in the 82nd minute as James Tarkowski was deemed to have handled the ball in the area, and Lukas Nmecha stepped up to fire home under Pickford’s dive for the winner.

Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media

Jordan Pickford – 5

An unusually shaky showing from England’s number one with the ball at his feet as a number of his kicks went wayward.

O’Brien continued his stellar right-back showings into the new campaign as he was mostly able to contain Wilfred Gnonto all night and even threatened in the Leeds box at times.

James Tarkowski – 4

An iffy start by the burly centre-back as he was caught out of position at times, and despite some decent blocks and interceptions as the game went on, he was ultimately at fault for Leeds’ winner after blocking the ball with his arm.

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Michael Keane – 6

Keane signed a new Everton contract in the summer after initially leaving the club, and Moyes will be pleased that he did so as he was mostly reliable at Elland Road despite a few wayward passes and slow turns.

James Garner – 5

Garner was thrust into an unfamilar left-back role to start the new season, and it came as little surprise to see him struggle up against Dan James as he was often caught out of position and struggled to get forward.

(Credit Imago)

Tim Iroegbunam – 5

Iroegbunam was given the run-around by Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu, as he failed to cover out wide and also struggled to get on the ball and progress it forward at all.

Idrissa Gueye – 6

Gueye played better than his holding midfield partner but also rarely troubled the Whites’ strong core in the middle of the park.

A competitive debut for the Toffees’ summer signing ended in disappointment as he created just one chance in attacking midfield and failed to even take a shot at Perri’s goal [Fotmob].

(Credit: Imago)

Charly Alcaraz – 6

Was mostly left to help out in defence for the first 45, then did come into the game more with some neat play and good touches in the second period, but still struggled to make any sort of impact going forward.

Beto – 5

Poor.

Beto has been linked with Leeds this summer amid their search for a striker, but is unlikely to be anymore after he had just two touches in their area all game and won just five of his 13 aerial duels [Fotmob].

He was better in the second half as they came into the game, but was mostly kept quiet by Jayden Bogle all evening.

Substitutes

(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Jack Grealish (on for Iroegbunam 70?) – 5

Grealish is hoping for a new dawn in royal blue, and he will definitely be more impactful in the future compared to this showing.

Everton’s tactic was clearly to pass it to him every time they had it late on, but his crosses were not great and he did very little to help.

Thierno Barry (on for Alcaraz 86?) – 5

Hardly got involved late on as the Toffees just tried to put it on his head in the box.
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