Leeds United made a dream return to the Premier League with a deserved 1-0 home victory over Everton at Elland Road on Tuesday (AEST).
Leeds debutant Lukas Nmecha slotted home a confident penalty in the 84th minute to separate the teams after the officials found James Tarkowski guilty of handball following a deflected shot.
“That’s a scandal. That’s never a penalty,” former England international Chris Sutton said on the BBC.
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But former Leeds star Michael Bridges saw it differently on Stan Sport’s coverage.
“You’ll see him lean into it. And he’s trying to get his chest up,” Bridges said.
“I know as a defender he’s trying to get his arm out of the way, but it has struck the arm and it is a target, and he was leaning in that direction, trying to get his chest to it.”
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David Moyes at Elland Road. Getty
Everton manager David Moyes had words with referee Chris Kavanagh – who awarded the penalty before being checked by VAR – after the final whistle.
Leeds were promoted into the top flight after winning the Championship last season.
“They’re going to be a force in the Premier League if they keep playing like that,” Liverpool legend Michael Owen said on Stan Sport’s coverage.
The James Tarkowski hand ball. Stan
Manchester City star Jack Grealish made his Everton debut off the bench after being loaned out to the Liverpool club.
The forward, a poster boy of English football, is looking to reignite his career but was unable to inspire Everton.
Grealish entered in the 71st minute when the score was 0-0 and struggled to make an impact.
Jack Grealish of Everton runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Daniel James of Leeds United. Getty
Leeds dominated the first half in front of a raucous Elland Road crowd, but wasted a host of chances to break the deadlock.
Everton, on the other hand, did not muster a single shot, on or off target, in the opening period.
Tarkowski was filthy afterwards.
“Absolutely bizarre, bizarre,” he said on Stan Sport’s coverage.
“I always thought the rule was ‘arm in an unnatural position’, which it definitely wasn’t. It was by my side.
“So unless they’ve got a new rule about leaning to block a ball, I don’t know. But if that’s the reason to give it, I can’t understand it. I asked the referee on the pitch, ‘if my hand’s by my side, is it a penalty?’, He said ‘no’.
“He didn’t give it, the linesman gives it from 40 yards away. How you can see whether my arms are half an inch away or not from where he stood, I don’t know.
“Bizarre, bizarre decision and I don’t understand why it’s been given.
“Unless I have to run around like the European style, with my hands on my back… that’s not something I’m ever going to do because it’s not easy to move like that.”
Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United celebrates after scoring a goal. Getty
Lukas Nmecha, a summer signing only on the field for six minutes as a substitute, stroked the spot kick past Jordan Pickford with just his third touch of the ball.
Leeds was making its return to the Premier League after a two-year absence and was the second promoted team to win in the opening round, after Sunderland.
Everton, which failed to have a shot on goal in the first half, will hope for a better performance on Sunday when the team hosts Brighton for the first competitive game in its new, 53,000-seat waterfront stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which has replaced Goodison Park as Everton’s home.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke was a happy man after the game-defining decision went his way.
“On field, it felt like a penalty in the moment, perhaps it was also a bit emotional with the roar of the stadium,” Farke said.
“Lukas’ first two or three touches were not spot on – I was a bit worried because normally he’s an outstanding penalty taker.
Jordan Pickford of Everton. Getty
“I was overthinking if I should tell him today it’s perhaps not the day to take a penalty. Thank God I didn’t step in. He was ice cold and calm.”
For the past two seasons the three teams that have come up from the Championship have gone straight back down, but this performance made Leeds look like a team that could buck the trend.
Joel Piroe brought a fine early save out of Pickford, with the Dutch striker then twice going close to an opener in the first half as the away side toiled.
James Tarkowski of Everton reacts following a hand ball incident. Getty
It took until eight minutes into the second half for the visitors to manage a shot at goal, Idrissa Gueye hammering an effort well over the top.
Leeds got the goal their efforts warranted, even if Everton felt aggrieved over the penalty decision.
“It’s not a penalty,” Everton coach David Moyes said.
“We didn’t play well enough on the night, but the big frustration is the referees have actually had a bad opening weekend. I just don’t know what the rules are supposed to be.”
– with Reuters and AP
