Everton were held to a score draw by Leeds United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
David Moyes’ side went a goal down in the first half as James Justin scored his first Premier League goal for Leeds United.
A change of shape in the second half completely shifted the momentum in favour of Everton, who were disappointed only to draw.
Everton fans, your immediate thoughts on tonight’s 1-1 with Leeds? 🤔
It was certainly a game of two halves…
Thierno Barry netted his fourth goal in his last five games, and Idrissa Gana Gueye almost scored minutes later when he struck the crossbar.
With all that said, here are three things learned from the 1-1 draw.
- READ MORE: Everton player ratings vs Leeds, Thierno Barry rescues Toffees but there’s one 2/10 after 1-1 draw
Thierno Barry has surely called off the striker search this January transfer window
We’ve certainly learnt over the last few weeks exactly why Everton shelled out around £30m for Barry in the summer.
Tonight’s performance was further evidence that the Frenchman is really growing in confidence and improving with each game.
How impressed were you with Thierno Barry vs Leeds United? 👏
The 23-year-old took his goal superbly well, as he made a great run to the near post before lifting the ball into the roof of the net.
Surely Barry has called off the search for a new striker this January transfer window.
Dwight McNeil should be sold before the deadline
Dwight McNeil was linked to Nottingham Forest earlier this month, but it emerged that Everton had no intention of letting him depart.
Now that Iliman Ndiaye is back from AFCON, the Toffees should seriously consider moving him on before the end of the window and getting in a replacement.
As evinced by McNeil’s statistics below, he was miles off the pace against Leeds and was subsequently dragged off at half-time.
Dwight McNeil surely has to be dropped after his display vs Leeds doesn’t he, Everton fans?! 🤔
The winger was hooked at half-time as David Moyes changed the system…
Back five could be a genuine option going forward
Moyes was forced to change the shape to a back five at half-time, as his side struggled to compete with Leeds.
That made a huge difference as they looked like a totally different side with an extra defender and wing-backs.
Everton fans, who was your standout performer in the 1-1 draw with Leeds? 🤔
It certainly won’t be a permanent change, but Moyes will now know that the formation is a genuine option if required.
Tyler Dibling even played the wing-back role in the end, and he was able to get on the ball a lot more frequently.
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