Leeds United boss Daniel Farke praises versatile player he can count on after Everton draw
Daniel Farke insisted it was a good result for Leeds United to take a hard earned point from their game at Everton.
The Whites led from the 28th minute after James Justin scored his first Premier League goal for the club, but were pegged back in the second half when their hosts equalised 14 minutes from time through Thierno Barry.
It meant that despite a dominant first half display United lost ground to relegation rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest over the weekend as both were victorious and they are still without an away win in the league for four months.
But they have only lost once in their last 10 Premier matches and there were enough positives for manager Farke to declare himself happy with the way things went on Leeds' first visit to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He said: “It was a good result, a promoted side to come away from Everton, which is a tough place, with a point.
“We are also a bit disappointed we didn't win it because in the first half it was an excellent performance.
“We were very dominant, didn't allow chances for them and should have scored a second goal. We would have liked to have perhaps buried the game in the first half.
“It was always clear with the quality they had on the bench they would show up at some point. They had more possession in the second half, but the gut feeling was that we still controlled the game against the ball and didn't allow much.
“Karl Darlow made one good save before the goal and they had one against the crossbar after the goal, but apart from this it was just a goal. We were not far away from winning this game.
“Overall it was a good performance from my lads and a good point.
“We edge one point closer and it's also good for the confidence to stay another game unbeaten and to show another competitive away performance.
“We need a few more wins and a few more draws because we want to stay in this league. We are on a good path, but nothing is achieved yet, we have to keep going, we have to stay humble and keep going then we have a chance.”
Farke praised his goal scorer, Justin, not just for his goal but his versatility as he has played in three different positions since coming into the team.
He added: “He's a top character, diligent, smart player, gives everything, always thinks about the team and unselfish.
“Wherever I need him – right-back, centre-back, left-back, right wing-back, left wing-back I can always count on him, he delivers.
“It's great to have him and with his quality he can also score goals sometimes although he's not made just for goal scoring.”
Leeds weathered some pressure in the first five minutes, but then took control for the rest of the opening half and deservedly led at the break.
A number of promising positions were wasted with wrong options taken and final passes not hitting the mark, but they were giving Everton many problems with the movement of Brenden Aaronson and the attacking positions taken up by wing-backs Justin and Jayden Bogle.
It was Bogle who played a big part in the opening goal as he combined with Anton Stach down the right. The German's cross fell invitingly for Justin who arrived late in the box to calmly shoot past England goalkeeper.
United were inches away from doubling their lead when Bogle got in behind the home defence and his cross was met by Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the near post only for his shot to hit the post.
Everton boss David Moyes changed his team's system at the break to match Leeds' back three and slowly but surely they began to turn the screw.
With the Whites maybe backing off the hosts exerted some pressure for the first time and had their first real chance as Barry's shot had to be well saved by Darlow.
The Leeds keeper, however, could not keep out Barry's next effort as he met Idrissa Gueye's low cross to score at the near post.
With the ground suddenly bouncing and the Whites rocking, it was Everton's turn to hit the woodwork as Gueye's shot from the edge of the box struck the bar with Darlow beaten.
Now it was Farke's turn to make changes and he went to a back four with recent recruit Facundo Buonanotte coming on for his debut and winger Noah Okafor also brought on.
This gave the hosts more to think about defensively again and it was the Whites who looked the more likely to score in the closing stages, but substitute Sean Longstaff shot wide and United were unable to make anything of some promising breaks and a late corner.
A point apiece felt right at the final whistle after a very definite game of two halves.
Everton 1
(Barry 76)
(Justin 28)
Monday, January 26, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 51,979
Everton: Pickford; Patterson (Dibling 71), Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil (Dewsbury-Hall 45), Armstrong (Branthwaite 45), Ndiaye; Barry (Beto 89).
Leeds: Darlow; Bornauw (Buonanotte 85), Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev (Tanaka 66), Justin; Stach (Longstaff 85), Aaronson (Okafor 85); Calvert-Lewin.
Referee: Simon Hooper