Leeds United – Everton: Fullbacks The Foundation Of Farke’s Redemption? (1-0)

Previous runs with Daniel Farke left little to be desired for Premier League’s established survivors to be worried, but Leeds United beg to differ. Upon their return, Leeds creatively carved through the Everton medium block, a late penalty securing the points. Is this the beginning of Farke’s redemption?

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Two years on from a dramatic final day, perhaps Everton are a good example that teams that seem doomed are capable of reliving with Premier League survival. 

Despite leading Leeds back from the Championship, the jury is still out on Daniel Farke and whether his model is sustainable in the league. Leeds have maximised on defensive recruits, which include  Lucas Perri between the posts, Jaka Bigol at center-back, Gabriel Gudmundsson at left fullback and both Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach as more defensive midfielders. This will make what they do down the channels particularly important: where Dan James and Willy Gnonto still occupy in all white. 

It’s been a transformative summer on the blue side of Merseyside, and not just with the stadium move. Out was a core of players that had kept Everton up, none more influential than Abdoulaye Doucouré, with some huge goals throughout the last few seasons. Everton have made some interesting profile changes in the replacements: Doucouré out for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Calvert-Lewin (signed by Leeds) out for Thierno Barry and Young for Adam Aznou. Though the replacements bring quality, the recruitment has yet to enhance the squad from what it already has/had, especially on the right side. Jack Grealish, on loan from Man City, may be the outlier . . .