All the pre-season preparations paid off for Leeds United in their win against Everton on Monday night. The Whites became the second newly promoted team this gameweek to record a win.
Sunderland recorded a shock win as they beat West Ham 3-0 at home. Leeds followed their lead with a win at home of their own. Before the game, Daniel Farke called upon the fans to make the stadium a fortress just like they did in the Championship. Leeds won over half of their 100 points last season at Elland Road.
”For a newly-promoted side, it’s crucial you have a really good home record. We made Elland Road a fortress in the Championship, won many games and many points. We know it will be difficult to win the same amount [in the Premier League], but we have to make a fortress out of Elland Road again.”
QUIZ: Can you name the season these 10 Leeds United shirts are from?
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VAR rules analyst explains Leeds United penalty decision
Credit: Imago
Leeds dominated Everton all game, and were unlucky not to find the net until the last 10 minutes of the match. Lukas Nmecha scored a penalty after James Tarkowski was deemed to have committed a handball offence. After the game, both Tarkowski and his coach David Moyes, condemned the decision.
With all the talk about it being a controversial decision, ESPN editor Dale Johnson gave his take on the decision. Johnson writes a weekly column where he analyses VAR decisions using the rules of the game. And he had this to say on the Tarkowski handball incident:
”The James Tarkowski penalty decision isn’t about arm position, but how he leans into the path of the shot and blocks it with the arm.
”Regardless of the arm being close to the body, this can be seen as handball.
”Once given, very difficult for the VAR to get involved.” he wrote on X.
If Tarkowski was stood still and retracting his arm, then his arm position would mean this shouldn’t be a penalty.
But it’s all in the movement of his body and the weight of the on-field decision.
Very possible this isn’t a penalty if not given on-field.
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) August 18, 2025
He also added; ”If Tarkowski was stood still and retracting his arm, then his arm position would mean this shouldn’t be a penalty.
”But it’s all in the movement of his body and the weight of the on-field decision.
”Very possible this isn’t a penalty if not given on-field.”
Blatant handball by Tarkowski of the Merseyside Globetrotters.