Everton 1-1 Leeds

Thierno Barry continued his strong scoring form with a second-half equalizer to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds.

Barry, who scored just once in his first 18 league games, slotted in a 76th-minute equalizer for a fourth goal in five top-flight games.

Everton could not find a winner as Idrissa Gueye hit the crossbar just two minutes after Barry’s goal, extending the Toffees’ home winless run to five games as they moved into the top half of the table.

Sixteenth-placed Leeds, meanwhile, are six points above the drop and remain with just one away win this season.

It was a point for David Moyes’ side, who had looked unlikely at the break, e.g Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said Everton had made Leeds “look like Real Madrid”.

James Justin had given the visitors a deserved lead in the 28th minute when he fired home from Anton Stach’s cross.

Six minutes later, Dominic Calvert-Lewin almost haunted Everton when he hit the post in his first game against them since joining Leeds on a free transfer in the summer.

Everton were booed at half-time after failing to have a shot on target, while Leeds had 10 first-half attempts.

Moyes responded by making a double change at half-time, bringing on Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to match Leeds’ back three – and it worked a treat.

The home side were jolted into life when Barry poked home from Gueye’s cross to prevent Leeds from claiming back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Moyes: Subs made the difference

Everton leader David Moyes speaks to Sky Sports:

“Really disappointed with how we played in the first half and generally how we set up didn’t really work as well as we would have liked. The second half was a lot better. We stuck with it.

“It didn’t look like a goal was going to come but we got one at the end and we were a bit unlucky not to get another.”

During breaks: “I was hoping we couldn’t play worse than we did in the first half. Leeds were first to more balls, I didn’t think we competed well and it wasn’t like us. All round we lacked a bit of something that would make the difference.

“We’ve got a lot of players coming back and none of them were able to start. I’ve probably gone a bit early on Jarrad (Branthwaite) and Kiernan (Dewsbury-Hall) but we had to try and do something and make a difference. Those players came on and made a difference.”

On Thierno Barry’s form: “If you’re a centre-forward you have to score goals and he didn’t have that at the start. His game has improved. He’s becoming more settled with us. His training is better. It’s not always the answer, but when you train well and get used to things, you have a better chance of scoring goals.”

Farke: We should have buried the game in the first half

Leeds boss Daniel Farke speaks to Sky Sports:

“It’s a good result for promotion. To get to Everton, a difficult place, especially when they’re on it in the second half. It’s definitely a good result.

“It’s a bit disappointing as we weren’t far away from winning it. I think in the first half it was an excellent performance. Very dominant, didn’t allow them chances and we should have scored the second goal.

“We should have buried the game in the first half.

“It was always clear that with the quality Everton were able to bring, they were going to show up at some point in this game.

“They had more possession in the second half but the gut instinct is that we still controlled the game against the ball. Karl Darlow made a good save; they hit the crossbar but other than that it was just the goal.

“Overall it was a good performance from the boys and a good point for us.”

Can Leeds trouble Arsenal?

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on whether Leeds can beat Arsenal at Elland Road on Saturday:

“How much trouble will Arsenal cause them? They [Arsenal] went to Everton, a similar team, and they won there 1-0.

“I think if Arsenal are going to Leeds and win, it might be on the odd goal. They’re not going to score an abundance of goals. They rely on set-pieces.

“I think through that fact Leeds should stay in the game as long as they can, even if they are 1-0 down. The atmosphere has helped them get so many big scalps. I think it will be a really tough game for Arsenal.

“I expect them to win, but only by the odd goal.”

Opta Stats: Everton remain winless against newly promoted teams

Everton remain winless against newly promoted sides in the Premier League this season (D3 L1), although they are unbeaten at home in their last six games (W4 D2).
No team has lost fewer Premier League games since the start of December than Leeds United (1), while only Aston Villa (22), Manchester City (21), Arsenal (20), Manchester United and Fulham (both 17) have collected more points in that time than their 15.
Everton have now conceded nine goals via crosses in the Premier League this season; the most joint in the competition this term along with West Ham United.
After failing to score with any of his first 15 Premier League shots this season, Everton’s Thierno Barry has scored with five of his last 10 efforts on target.
Since the start of December, only Ollie Watkins (7), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7) and Erling Haaland (6) have scored more Premier League goals than Thierno Barry (5).