A cross from Dan James was met by Piroe but O’Brien scrambled it away. The first quarter of the match had passed with Everton not getting a touch in the Leeds box. That finally changes in the 29th minute when Alcaraz broke into the box but the Leeds keeper was there to snuff out the chance.

Leeds United edged past Everton 1-0 in the final match of the 2025-26 Premier League season’s opening weekend. Lukas Nmecha rolled home a late penalty (84’) after James Tarkowski was adjudged to have handled it inside the box.

Preview the matchup between Leeds United and Everton FC with predictions, odds, over/under, betting lines and more.

Leeds United returns to the Premier League after two seasons in the Championship and will play their first match back in the top flight against Everton. The game will be played at Elland Road, with Daniel Farke leading the team once again.

Leeds’ win over Everton was settled by a late penalty that sparked fierce debate, with managers and pundits split on whether the decision was correct.

Leeds starting XI: Perri, Rodon, Struijk, Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach, James, Gnonto, Piroe. Substitutes: Darlow, Byram, Longstaff, Aaronson, Harrison, Ramazani, Nmecha, Bornauw and Gruev. Jack Grealish starts tonight's game from the bench, whilst Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is named in the starting 11.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has swapped Everton for Leeds this summer and could make his Leeds debut tonight against his former club. They have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Sean Longstaff, Lucas Perri and Anton Stach.