Everton 3-0 Leeds United
Leeds’ verve could unnerve (Frank) Lampard.
That was the headline I read before this Premier League encounter at a raucous Goodison Park.
Yes, this game was evenly poised early on and, with a bit of luck, Leeds could have been on level terms rather than 2-0 down by the 23rd minute.
However, by the end, the only verve was emanating from the men in blue as they gave their fans some Premier League highlights to cheer and ended a run of six league games without a win.
For a new boss who has a ‘big job on his hands’, this was the home start he must have dreamed of.
Highlights of the game
After scoring six in their past two away games, Leeds may have been the last team Lampard would have chosen to face as he tries to reverse Everton’s downward momentum.
Certainly, Marcelo Bielsa’s team could well have been expected to swarm all over a side who looked devoid of confidence and energy in midweek.
Indeed, if the luckless Rodrigo hadn’t been denied twice by the crossbar in the opening half, the outcome may have been different.
Yet once Everton took control of the scoresheet, they took control of the match.
They were without Demarai Gray, forced off with a hip problem, and Yerry Mina who sustained a serious thigh injury during their 3-1 defeat at Newcastle.
In fairness, Leeds have also had injuries galore this term, even if they impressed in a six goal thriller in midweek at Aston Villa in which Dan James shone.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa named an unchanged team with Stuart Dallas continuing at left-back in the absence of Junior Firpo.
Perhaps they should have realised it wouldn’t be their day when Dallas had to leave the fray just nine minutes in.
The visitors were reeling again within a minute as midfielder Donny van de Beek, making his first Everton start and only his fifth Premier League start in total, crossed and home captain Seamus Coleman tapped in a rebound.
Van de Beek was one of four changes made by Lampard with Dominic Calvert-Lewin returning from his latest injury, Alex Iwobi making his first league appearance since December and Jonjoe Kenny drafted in.
With the Dutchman, on loan from Manchester United, adding quality to the home midfield and Anthony Gordon adding touches of precocious class, there was optimism at Goodison which increased even further after 22 minutes as Richarlison won a corner out of nothing and Gordon curled a delightful set-piece to the far post where Michael Keane thumped home an unstoppable header.
This was more like the Everton of 12 months ago when they went to Elland Road and recorded a 2-1 win to move up to sixth in the table.
Before kick-off, the Toffees had only managed one win and five points in 14 matches – the worst record in the top flight since mid-October.
Leeds chances of extending Everton’s miserable record were over realistically though when Rodrigo was denied by the bar for the second time in first half stoppage time.
Jordan Pickford was barely tested after the break and victory was sealed when Richarlison turned inside his marker and drove in a low shot which was deflected into the net off Gordon.
But for a fine save from keeper Illan Meslier, Everton would have had four as substitute Salomon Rondon saw his strike expertly tipped over the bar.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds have always shown that Everton are never gong to be dragged into a relegation battle.
Here was further proof.
The question now is, can they begin to fulfil their undoubted potential.
Key statistics
Everton have scored 336 headed goals in the Premier League, a joint-high along with Manchester United
With Keane scoring for Everton and twin brother Will scoring for Wigan in League One, today marked the first time both have scored in English league football on the same day.
Leeds have not won back-to-back league visits to Goodison Park since November 1976.
Bielsa’s side have conceded 18 goals in their past five away league matches.
Everton have already lost 12 league fixtures in 2021-22, only one fewer than in the entirety of last season and have lost an unrivalled 14 home games since the beginning of last season.
What’s next?
Everton have a week off now before a trip to the south coast to face Southampton next Saturday (February 19).
Likewise, Leeds are back in action the following day as they host historic rivals Manchester United.
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