Leeds vs Aston Villa: Nmecha goal after VAR drama in Premier League

Lukas Nmecha gave Leeds United an eighth-minute lead at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check ruled against grounded visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Villa complained that Martinez had been fouled when Anton Stach beat the Argentina international to Sean Longstaff’s cross, allowing Nmecha to apply the final touch in a goalmouth scramble.

“Goalkeepers are a protected species,” former Leeds and Villa defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Villa don’t defend it convincingly at all and Martinez doesn’t cover himself in glory at all.”

Lukas Nmecha gets the last touch to put Leeds ahead! 👏 pic.twitter.com/8gEpe2QWQJ

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2025

Leeds vs Villa: Nmecha goal

Nmecha notched his third goal of the season, having also scored in United’s 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest in their previous match on November 9.

The free signing from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in June opened his account with the only goal of the game on his new club’s return to the top flight at home to Everton on August 18.

Third-bottom Leeds need a point to move out of the relegation zone, while the Villans would move fourth with victory.

Leeds team vs Villa

Winger Wilfried Gnonto was back from injury on the bench for Leeds, but centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw was absent following a knee issue.

Leeds United starting XI: Lucas Perri, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Brenden Aaronson, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor

Leeds substitutes: Karl Darlow, Daniel James, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Joel Piroe, Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, James Justin, Wilfried Gnonto, Ilia Gruev

Aston Villa team vs Leeds United

Centre-back Tyrone Ming and midfielder Amadou Onana were out for Villa but Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Lamare Bogarde were available following injury issues.

Youri Tielemans returned in place of Onana in their one change from the win over Bournemouth, with George Hemmings introduced on the bench.

The Villans have been managing forward Ollie Watkins’ fitness. “Some individual players can have small problems, and sometimes he’s not feeling 100% fit to play,” manager Unai Emery explained.

“He’s trying to work intelligently – sometimes resting, sometimes not doing all the work we are doing.”

Aston Villa starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins

Villa substitutes: Marco Bizot, Victor Lindelof, Ross Barkley, Donyell Malen, Jadon Sancho, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Evann Guessand, George Hemmings

How to watch Leeds vs Villa: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Sunday was at 14:00 BST (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.

Premier League results and fixtures this weekend

Nottingham Forest’s victory at reigning champions Liverpool to move out of the relegation was the most notable of Saturday’s results, while Chelsea won at Burnley to move second, staying ahead of Manchester City after the Cityzens lost at Newcastle.

Saturday, November 22

Burnley 0-2 Chelsea

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Brentford

Fulham 1-0 Sunderland

Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest

Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace

Newcastle 2-1 Manchester City

Sunday, November 23

Leeds United vs Aston Villa (14:00)

Arsenal vs Tottenham (16:30)

Monday, November 24

Manchester United vs Everton (20:00)