LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND — Thierno Barry's 76th-minute equalizer rescued a precious point for Everton as they battled back to claim a 1-1 draw against relegation-battling Leeds United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. James Justin's first-half strike had threatened to condemn the Toffees to a damaging defeat, but Barry's intervention ensured the spoils were shared in a tense encounter that neither side could afford to lose.
The visitors made the brighter start and their early pressure told in the 28th minute when Justin broke the deadlock with a clinical finish. Anton Stach delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank, and Justin timed his run perfectly to meet the ball in the centre of the box, guiding a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner beyond Jordan Pickford's despairing dive. It was a goal that rewarded Leeds' aggressive approach and left the home faithful stunned into silence.
Everton had been fortunate to reach the interval with only a one-goal deficit. Just eight minutes into the contest, Dominic Calvert-Lewin nearly doubled Leeds' advantage when Stach threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into his path. The striker's right-footed effort from the centre of the box forced Pickford into a crucial save, the England goalkeeper reacting sharply to push the ball to safety. That early warning shot set the tone for a first half in which Leeds looked the more dangerous side despite Everton's territorial advantage.
The home side emerged from the break with renewed purpose, manager Sean Dyche having introduced Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite in a tactical reshuffle. The changes injected fresh energy into Everton's play, and they began to assert control through midfield. James Garner and Idrissa Gueye started to dictate the tempo, with the latter proving particularly influential in the final third.
Everton's pressure finally told 14 minutes from time when Barry leveled the scores with a composed finish. Gueye, who had been probing relentlessly, delivered an inviting cross from the right side, and Barry met it with a right-footed strike from the centre of the box that flew into the high centre of the goal. Karl Darlow had no chance as the ball arrowed past him, and Hill Dickinson Stadium erupted in relief and celebration.
The goal sparked a frantic finale as both sides sensed an opportunity to snatch all three points. Just two minutes after Barry's equalizer, Gueye came agonizingly close to completing the turnaround when his right-footed effort from the centre of the box cannoned off the crossbar, with Tyler Dibling having created the opening. The Everton midfielder could only watch in frustration as his powerful strike rebounded to safety.
Leeds refused to settle for a point and launched a series of late attacks in search of a winner. In the 88th minute, Sean Longstaff spurned a golden opportunity on the counterattack, his right-footed shot from the right side of the box sailing too high after Noah Okafor had set him up. The miss proved costly as Leeds ran out of time to find a decisive goal.
The closing stages descended into a desperate scramble, with Leeds throwing bodies forward. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, James Justin rose to meet a Sean Longstaff cross from a corner, but his header from the left side of the six-yard box drifted narrowly wide of the post. It was the final chance of a pulsating encounter that had swung back and forth throughout the 90 minutes.
The statistics reflected Everton's territorial dominance, with the home side controlling 58.1% of possession and pinning Leeds back for long stretches. However, Leeds proved more clinical in front of goal, registering 14 shots to Everton's 10 and forcing Pickford into three saves compared to Darlow's two. The visitors' greater shot accuracy—four on target versus Everton's three—highlighted their efficiency in transition.
The match was played in a fiery atmosphere, with referee Anthony Taylor brandishing three yellow cards to Leeds players. Anton Stach and Ilia Gruev were both cautioned in the second half for cynical fouls, while Facundo Buonanotte saw yellow in the dying moments. The 13 fouls committed by Leeds compared to Everton's nine underlined the visitors' physical approach as they sought to disrupt the home side's rhythm.
For Everton, sitting ninth on 25 points with a goal difference of minus-one, this draw represents a missed opportunity to climb the table. Their record of seven wins, four draws, and six losses suggests a team capable of mid-table security but lacking the consistency to push for European places. The Toffees will rue their inability to capitalize on sustained possession and home advantage against a side fighting for survival.
Leeds United remain in grave danger, languishing in 17th place with just 17 points from 16 matches. Their record of four wins, four draws, and eight losses, coupled with a goal difference of minus-10, paints a worrying picture. Justin's goal offered hope, but their inability to hold onto the lead will concern manager Daniel Farke as the relegation battle intensifies.
The draw keeps both teams in familiar territory—Everton treading water in mid-table mediocrity while Leeds continue to flirt with the drop zone. Neither side will be satisfied with a point, but given the circumstances, it may prove more valuable to the visitors than the hosts.
Leeds United travel to face Arsenal on January 31 in what promises to be a daunting assignment at the Emirates Stadium. The Whites will need to rediscover their early-season defensive solidity if they are to have any hope of taking points from the league leaders. For Everton, the focus shifts to building momentum and converting possession dominance into victories as they seek to establish themselves in the top half of the table.