Everton 1 Leeds United 1: Sole first-half negative costs dominant Whites amid debut and defender impact — YEP 26/1/26

By Lee Sobot

Leeds United took on Everton at the club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium in Premier League Monday Night Football.

A brilliant first-half display from Leeds United at Monday night’s Premier League hosts Everton ultimately only yielded a point as the club’s first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Toffees began brightly, Leeds surviving a couple of early corners either side of a Thierno Barry volley being deflected behind.

United fired in their first attempt in the seventh minute but it proved wasteful, Pascal Struijk blazing over from the edge of the area with plenty of Whites men in the box.

But a better chance arrived two minutes later as a flick from Anton Stach allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to get behind the Everton back line, the striker short on time and space but attempting to poke the ball past Jordan Pickford who blocked his attempt.

Leeds were now pushing Everton back but another attack ended as James Justin fired well wide from 20 yards out after a cleared Ethan Ampadu long throw.

A neat Whites attack then had Everton scrambling around as James Tarkowski cleared Jayden Bogle's pullback for a corner from which the clearance fell to Ilia Gruev who fired over from the edge of the box. A few minutes later, Justin and Bogle got in each other's way as a Justin shot from just inside the area was blocked.

It looked merely a matter of time before Leeds went in front and Farke's Whites finally did just as a fine move in the 29th minute was finished off by Justin.

A strong header from Joe Rodon allowed Stach to get away down the right and his low cross just missed Calvert-Lewin but Aaronson and the onrushing Justin were on the scene and Aaronson sensibly left the ball to the better placed Justin who smashed home a powerful finish.

The Whites were very good value for their lead and quickly pushed for a second goal with Aaronson continually buzzing about across the front line and Everton were saved conceding again by the post.

From another strong Aaronson run, Bogle was played in down the right and his low cross picked out Calvert-Lewin whose first-time shot from the middle of the box smashed back off the post.

Following a rare Everton attack, Aaronson came forward again but his low shot from the edge of the area was weak and easily saved by Pickford.

Everton had an XG of just 0.1 but a poor pass from Rodon in a dangerous area presented the Toffees with a chance just before the break, the hosts working the ball to James Garner who could only slice a shot into the side netting from the edge of the box.

The Toffees looked to end the half on the up but a brilliant tough tackle from Ampadu helped keep them frustrated and boos followed as referee Simon Hooper eventually blew up for half time.

A no doubt very unhappy Toffees boss David Moyes made a double change during the interval as back-from-injury pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite were brought on to replace Dwight McNeil and Harrison Armstrong.

Now playing with a back three, Everton improved - slightly - but Leeds continued to push for a second goal amid bookings for Whites pair Stach and Ilia Gruev for late challenges.

But a brilliant block from Whites defender Bornauw was then needed just before the hour mark to keep out a goalbound shot from Ndiaye who had been played in by Barry after Justin had lost the ball in the middle of the park.

Back came Leeds with another attack which ended with Pickford getting down well to keep out Stach’s drive towards the bottom right corner.

But Whites keeper Darlow then produced a fantastic save to deny Everton striker Barry who worked space away from Bornauw in the box and produced a shot with the outside of his boot that was heading for the left corner until Darlow tipped it wide.

With Leeds under the pump a bit, Farke made his first change in the 66th minute as Ao Tanaka was brought on to replace Gruev.

The change briefly helped stem the tide but Everton were now getting on top and Ndiaye worked space for another shot from the edge of the box which was deflected behind for a corner.

Leeds survived it but one minute later the Toffees finally drew level as a ball down the right played in Gueye who got away from Tanaka and sent in a low cross towards Barry who escaped Bornauw before sending a rising finish into the roof of the net.

Everton smelt blood and next it was United’s turn to be saved by the frame of the goal as a Gueye shot from just inside the box smashed back off the crossbar.

Leeds were holding on and Farke made a triple change with five minutes left, handing a debut to Facundo Buonanotte and also bringing on Sean Longstaff and Noah Okafor as Stach, Aaronson and Bornauw all made way.

Both sides then had chances to bag a winner but an entertaining contest ultimately ended all square, Leeds taking a point on the road but not the three which their first display suggested were on the cards and warranted.