Everton 3 Leeds United 0 - Fresh double injury blow as flat Whites are blitzed by Toffees - YEP 12/2/22
Leeds United blew another chance to move away from the drop zone as fifth-bottom Everton ended a run of four-straight Premier League losses with an easy 3-0 triumph at Goodison Park.
By Lee Sobot
Frank Lampard's newly-inherited side went ahead in the tenth
minute after a cross from Donny van de Beek was headed home by Seamus Coleman
from close range.
Leeds had lost Stuart Dallas to injury one minute earlier
and United's afternoon took another turn for the worse when Everton doubled
their advantage in the 23rd minute as Michael Keane headed home a corner.
Rodrigo had been denied by the crossbar after a fine volley
moments earlier but the Toffees created a host of chances, substitute Leo
Hjelde producing a fine tackle to deny Richarlison and Illan Meslier saving
well to push a Dominic Calvert-Lewin shot wide.
The half then ended with Rodrigo being denied by the
crossbar for a second time and in similar circumstances, a rising shot from the
edge of the box smacking back off the frame of the goal.
Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa opted to make a double
change during the interval and it was star man Raphinha and Mateusz Klich who
were taken off as Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw were introduced.
Roberts went up front but the only real chance fell to Dan
James who cut in and fired wide and Everton added a third in the 78th minute
when Richarlison danced around the box before firing a low shot past Meslier
into the bottom left corner.
The Toffees then would have added a fourth in the 90th
minute but for a superb save from Meslier to tip a fierce Salomon Rondon volley
over the bar and United then lost Hjelde to injury deep in second half stoppage
time.
