Everton pays penalty for limp display

Jack Grealish was unable to inspire Everton, making his club debut in the second-half of a 1-0 loss to newly promoted Leeds in the Premier League on Monday.

The England forward, once a poster boy of English soccer, is looking to reignite his career after leaving Manchester City on loan, but had to be content with a place on the bench for Everton's opening game.

Grealish entered in the 71st minute when the score was 0-0 at Elland Road and struggled to make an impact, before Leeds was awarded a penalty when Everton captain James Tarkowski blocked a goal-bound shot with his left arm as he leaned his body toward the ball.

Lukas Nmecha, a summer signing only on the field for six minutes as a substitute, stroked the spotkick past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with just his third touch of the ball for the only goal in the 84th.

Pickford prepared for the penalty by referring to his water bottle, where he usually has the names of potential opposition penalty-takers, and where they might place their attempt, on a piece of paper taped to the side.

"That was a bit of a bluff, to be fair," said Nmecha, a German-born winger who joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg. "I don't think I was one of the names on there."

Everton manager David Moyes was unhappy at the awarding of the penalty, saying "it wasn't fair", because Tarkowski's arm wasn't in an unnatural position.

"Tarky would have had to get his arm chopped off," Moyes said.

"It wasn't outside his body, he wasn't doing anything different."

The match appeared to be meandering towards a stalemate until Tarkowski was harshly adjudged to have handled Anton Stach's driven shot.

"It's not a penalty," said an aggrieved Tarkowski.

"I was pretty convinced it was going to get overturned (by VAR).

"A bizarre moment and it cost us the point in the end."

Everton, which failed to register 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.

Everton handed a debut to Manchester City loanee Grealish in the second half, but the Toffees were left to rue its toothless showing in the opening 45 minutes.

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.

The Yorkshire club is aiming to buck the trend of the past two seasons that have seen all three promoted clubs relegated.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke has also struggled previously with the step up to the English top-flight during two attempts as Norwich manager.

But, after Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, two of the three promoted sides have won on the opening weekend for only the third time in the Premier League era.

Leeds stormed to promotion by winning the Championship title with 100 points last season, and Farke's men started their latest foray into the English top flight in confident fashion.

The home side was dominant in the opening half with 12 shots on goal, but only once made Pickford work, forcing the England goalkeeper into a block from a Joel Piroe shot.

Grealish's introduction coincided with Everton's best spell of the game.

Lucas Perri, one of Leeds' eight summer signings, made an impressive save at his near post to turn behind a powerful Carlos Alcaraz strike before Jake O'Brien headed the resulting corner over.

Just as Leeds looked like it might have to hold on for a point, it was gifted the chance for a perfect start with all three.

There was little Tarkowski could do, as his left arm was down by his side when it blocked Stach's effort.

Nmecha stayed calm amid the furore, with the German international finding the bottom corner.

"For a newly promoted side, it (Elland Road) has to become a fortress," said Farke.

"It's great to see the joy and the pride in their (the fans) eyes. It's great to give the supporters, who are so emotional and care so much about their club, something to cheer."

Tarkowski had a chance to make amends with an equalizer, but he headed over.

Agencies