Report: Everton 1-1 Leeds United | OneFootball

Premier League

Everton 1 (Barry 76’)

Leeds United 1 (Justin 28’)

Everton: Pickford (GK), Patterson (Dibling 71’), Tarkowski (C), McNeil (Dewsbury-Hall 46’), Ndiaye, Barry (Beto 89’), O’Brien, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Armstrong (Branthwaite 46’). Subs not used: Travers (GK), Coleman, Alcaraz, Röhl, Aznou.

Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson (Okafor 85’), Stach (Longstaff 85’), Bornauw (Buonanotte 85’), Justin, Gruev (Tanaka 66’). Subs not used: Perri (GK), Piroe, Nmecha, Byram, Gnonto.

Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium

Attendance: 51,979

Referee: Simon Hooper

Booked: Stach, Gruev, Buonanotte (Leeds)

Leeds United were forced to settle for a point on their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium despite dominating in large spells, as James Justin’s first-half finish was cancelled out after the break.

Ahead of the meeting with Everton, Daniel Farke had made two changes to the team that beat Fulham last time out, recalling Anton Stach and Sebastiaan Bornauw to the starting lineup.

The Whites had an early chance after good play between Brenden Aaronson and Pascal Struijk, resulting in the latter firing a left-footed effort from the edge of the area over the upright.

A clever flick from Stach then saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin have an opportunity against his former employers though England international Jordan Pickford was quick to race out and smother the danger.

Leeds had started brightly on the banks of the River Mersey and Bulgarian Ilia Gruev was next to go close as the ball fell to him invitingly 20 yards from goal. The midfielder struck first-time, curling narrowly over the crossbar.

Superb link up down the right flank by Jayden Bogle and Stach allowed the German space down the right flank approaching the half-hour mark.

The midfielder cut a testing low ball into the middle which was excellently dummied by Calvert-Lewin, reaching Justin who emphatically smashed home to give Farke’s team a deserved lead!

One very nearly became two moments later. The lively Aaronson and Bogle were involved once more, creating an opportunity for Calvert-Lewin who rattled the foot of the post from close-range.

Leeds continued to control play and dictate possession as the opening period wound down before Simon Hooper’s whistle signalled half-time.

HALF TIME: Everton 0-1 Leeds United

The Whites emerged for the second half unchanged and settled back into the encounter on a cold Liverpool evening.

United still had to be wary of the Everton threat, however, and the retreating Bornauw did brilliantly to block a low Iliman Ndiaye strike from inside the area.

Down the other end moments later, after Calvert-Lewin had latched onto Pascal Struijk’s threaded pass, the ball fall to Stach whose left-footed drive forced a necessary diving intervention from Pickford.

The encounter was growing into an end-to-end affair and goalkeeper Karl Darlow had to be at full-stretch to get fingertips on an inventive Thierno Barry effort that curled towards the far corner.

A first alteration from the dugout introduced Ao Tanaka into the action just after the hour mark, replacing Ilia Gruev in the heart of midfield.

The Toffees levelled proceedings courtesy of Barry, meeting an Idrissa Gueye cross and firing beyond Darlow and into the roof of the net.

Gueye then almost put his side into the lead with a shot from the edge of the area which cannoned off the crossbar and raced away from danger.

Three further changes arrived inside the final 10 minutes. Stach, Aaronson and Bornauw made way for Sean Longstaff, Noah Okafor and debutant Facundo Buonanotte respectively.

Two of the substitutes immediately linked up as, on the break, Okafor found Longstaff but the midfielder blazed over from 20 yards out.

Leeds had a late chance to grab a winner through earlier goalscorer Justin, glancing wide from an in-swinging corner but it wasn’t to be for United, who had to settle for a point at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Whites return to Premier League action next weekend as they welcome high-flying Arsenal to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

FULL TIME: Everton 1-1 Leeds United