Recap

Everton Rescue Point in Tense 1-1 Draw Against Leeds United at Hill Dickinson Stadium

In a gripping Premier League encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton fought back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Monday, January 26, 2026. Thierno Barry’s 76th-minute equalizer preserved a point for the Toffees, extending their winless home run but halting a potential mutiny among frustrated fans.

First Half: Leeds Dominate and Take Deserved Lead

The match kicked off under chilly Liverpool evening conditions with an attendance of 51,979 packing the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Leeds United, managed by Daniel Farke, asserted early control, dictating possession and creating chances down the right flank through Jayden Bogle and Anton Stach.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was called into action early, denying a probing effort as Leeds probed for openings. The visitors’ pressure paid off in the 28th minute when James Justin fired home his first Premier League goal for Leeds since September 2024. Anton Stach’s low cross from the right evaded the Everton defense, allowing Justin to storm in at the far post after Dwight McNeil failed to track his run, blasting a low shot past Pickford.

Everton’s complaints of a foul on Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye earlier in the move fell on deaf ears with referee Simon Hooper. Leeds nearly doubled their lead just three minutes later in the 31st minute. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, facing his former club for the first time since joining Leeds, rattled the foot of the post with an instinctive first-time poke from close range.

Leeds continued to dominate, registering 10 shots in the first half—their highest tally in a league game half since September 2021—while Everton struggled to create meaningful threats. James Garner’s optimistic left-footed effort sliced into the side-netting, but it did little to stem the tide. Boos echoed around the stadium at half-time as Everton trailed 0-1, their fans growing restless amid a poor home record of just one win since November and only four league home victories all season.

Second Half Tactical Shift Sparks Everton Revival

Everton manager David Moyes responded decisively at the break, switching to a back three formation with double substitutions: Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replaced James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil. This tactical tweak matched Leeds’ three-at-the-back setup and injected fresh energy, jolting the Toffees into life.

Leeds emerged unchanged and initially settled back into the game, but Everton now posed a greater threat. Iliman Ndiaye, returning after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, tested Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who produced a fine save to deny Barry an earlier equalizer. Ndiaye also came close with a low strike from inside the area, brilliantly blocked by Sebastiaan Bornauw.

The momentum swung further when Idrissa Gueye unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that clipped the crossbar and rebounded away, nearly silencing the half-time jeers. Moyes’ faith in young striker Thierno Barry, despite the experienced Beto waiting on the bench, proved pivotal. Barry, continuing his red-hot form with four goals in five league games, nipped in front of Bornauw to poke home Gueye’s precise low cross in the 76th minute, clipping it into the roof of the net for the equalizer.

The stadium erupted as frustration turned to relief, with Barry’s strike preventing Leeds from securing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Late Substitutions and Missed Opportunities

Leeds manager Daniel Farke reacted with a triple change in the final 10 minutes: Anton Stach, Brenden Aaronson, and Sebastiaan Bornauw made way for Sean Longstaff, Noah Okafor, and debutant Facundo Buonanotte. The substitutes nearly combined for a winner on the break, with Okafor finding Longstaff, who blazed over from 20 yards.

Everton also made further adjustments: Tyler Dibling replaced Michael Patterson in the 71st minute, Beto came on for Barry in the 89th, and other tweaks aimed to see out the draw. Leeds had one last chance when Justin glanced wide from an in-swinging corner, but it wasn’t to be for the Whites.

The final whistle confirmed the 1-1 scoreline, with Everton line-up featuring Pickford; Patterson (Dibling 71′), Tarkowski (Branthwaite 46′), O’Brien, Mykolenko, Ndiaye, Barry (Beto 89′), Gueye, Garner, McNeil (Dewsbury-Hall 46′), Armstrong. Leeds’ key performers included Justin, Calvert-Lewin, Bogle, Stach, Aaronson, and Bornauw.

Key Player Performances

Thierno Barry (Everton): The French striker was the match-winner, justifying Moyes’ trust with his fourth goal in five games. His intelligent run and clinical finish from Gueye’s cross turned the game, silencing doubters and boosting Everton’s survival hopes.

James Justin (Leeds): A standout for the visitors, scoring the opener with a powerful far-post finish and nearly adding an assist. His first Leeds league goal since 2024 highlighted his threat from defense.

Idrissa Gueye (Everton): Pivotal in the comeback, providing the assist for Barry and hitting the crossbar. Fresh from AFCON glory, his energy transformed Everton’s midfield.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds): A constant menace against his old club, hitting the post and linking play effectively, though he couldn’t find the net.

David Moyes (Everton Manager): Tactical acumen shone through with the half-time switch and substitutions, rescuing a point from a dire situation.

Match Statistics and Context

Leeds edged possession and shots in the first half (10 shots), but Everton’s second-half resurgence balanced the stats. The draw left Everton in 10th place on 33 points (9 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses), one of four teams on that tally, stalling their push toward seventh and European spots. They’ve now gone five home games without a win, with fans’ frustration palpable.

Leeds, on 26 points, sit six points above the relegation zone, two behind Tottenham and Crystal Palace. The result was a blow after Nottingham Forest and West Ham’s weekend wins, denying Farke back-to-back victories.

Team	Goals	Possession	Shots	Position	Points
Everton	1 (Barry 76′)	~48%	~9 (2nd half heavy)	10th	33
Leeds United	1 (Justin 28′)	~52%	~12 (10 in 1st half)	~15th	26

Highlights included Justin’s opener, Calvert-Lewin’s post hit, Gueye’s crossbar strike, and Barry’s cool finish.

Post-Match Implications

For Everton, the point eases immediate pressure on Moyes but underscores home woes. Barry’s emergence offers hope amid a squad blending youth and experience like Ndiaye and Gueye. Leeds rue missed chances but remain competitive in mid-table survival battle, with Arsenal next at Elland Road.

This draw encapsulated Premier League intensity: tactical battles, individual brilliance, and late drama keeping fans on edge. Both sides take positives—Everton’s resilience, Leeds’ first-half dominance—into a packed schedule.