Last weekend’s superb victory at title-chasing Aston Villa catapulted Everton into the race for the European places, but it’s at their new home that results need to improve.
The first clear chance of the game went the way of their opponents, as former Toffee Dominic Calvert-Lewin got on the end of Brenden Aaronson’s ball to poke goalwards, but Jordan Pickford had charged out to get in the way of it.
The following minutes saw Leeds continue to control things, largely down to their relentless pressing and dynamic attacking play, and they were handsomely rewarded with half an hour played.
Anton Stach’s low cross was missed at the near post by Calvert-Lewin, but the ball instead rolled across the area for an arriving James Justin to smash in his first goal in a Leeds shirt.
The visitors continued to look for more before half-time, and Calvert-Lewin smashed against the post as he looked for a dream goal on his return to Merseyside.
But after a tactical switch, Everton came out in the second half as a much-improved side, and put Karl Darlow to work with an outside-of-the-boot Barry effort, which was saved brilliantly by the Leeds stopper.
There was nothing he could do, however, about Barry’s next try, as Idrissa Gueye’s low ball from the right was lifted into the roof of the net by Everton’s striker, who continued his scintillating run of form.
The equaliser was almost followed by another for the Toffees, but Gueye’s shot from the edge of the area arrowed agonisingly onto the bar.
That proved to be the hosts’ best opportunity to steal the three points, and time ran out without a clear winner.
Everton will be pleased with the point after their sub-par first-half performance, but they’re now winless in five at their home ground.
Having now drawn six of their last nine league matches, Daniel Farke will know his side need to improve in turning one point into three, and their advantage over the relegation zone has shrunk to six points this weekend as a result of this latest stalemate.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Anton Stach (Leeds)
Key stats
- Thierno Barry has scored four goals in his last five Premier League games, having scored just once in his first 18
- Indeed, since the start of December, only Ollie Watkins (7), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7) and Erling Haaland (6) have scored more Premier League goals than Everton's Thierno Barry (5)
- Leeds have gone 1-0 up in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November 2022, going on to win five of their nine games this season when scoring first (D1 L3)