Leeds United came from behind to earn a frustrating 1-1 draw with Everton on Tuesday night. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for the visitors inside the opening 20 minutes but saw his effort cancelled out by Luis Sinisterra’s first Premier League goal.
Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages as both Illan Meslier and Jordan Pickford were forced into smart saves. Leeds remain fifth in the table following the point and remain unbeaten at Elland Road so far this season.
Here is how the national media reported the game.
READ MORE: Give us your playing ratings from Leeds United's 1-1 draw with Everton
‘A throwback to another era’
Alistair Magowan of BBC Sport said: “Leeds' second-half recovery came after a first period where they showed plenty of effort but found Everton's new-look defence too tough to breach.
“The injury to Rodrigo also knocked their confidence, with the Spanish international leaving the pitch in some discomfort after a shoulder charge with Pickford. Marsch added: "They popped it back in and seems to be ok. He will have a scan."
“The Leeds striker had their best chance of the first half when he was inches away from connecting with a Harrison cross early on, but it was only after the break that the hosts began to test Pickford.
“First, Aaronson drew a fine stop from the Everton goalkeeper before Harrison had another effort saved.
“But the England number one could do little about Sinisterra's effort from the edge of the box.
“Elland Road erupted at that point, and it threatened to spill over as Gordon and Rasmus Kristensen put their heads together shortly afterwards, leading to a yellow card each, and the two benches clashed too.
“At times, it felt like a throwback to another era, but the football was thrilling even if Patrick Bamford's return from injury could not conjure a winner.
“Despite the feeling of disappointment at the end, Leeds recovered from their first defeat of the season at Brighton on Saturday to show they mean business under Marsch with the point keeping them fifth in the table.”
‘Sinisterra looks another smart buy’
Louise Taylor of the Guardian said: “Although Brenden Aaronson very nearly changed the early second-half mood, Pickford proved equal to the US international’s powerfully swerving right-foot shot.
“The England goalkeeper’s superb, full-stretch, save proved the cue for Patrick Bamford, newly recovered from groin trouble, to start warming up as Elland Road’s decibel level soared and the improving Nathan Patterson duelled intriguingly with Harrison.
“Aaronson has done very well since his £25m move from RB Salzburg but the £21m Sinisterra looks another smart buy. He emphasised his potential by meeting Aaronson’s characteristically intelligent ball and, having switched the ball on to his left foot, shooting low beyond an unsighted Pickford. Hats off to the excellent Joe Gelhardt – on for Rodrigo – for a decoy run which pulled Everton’s defence out of position.
“As the temperature rose Gordon and Rasmus Kristensen went head-to-head in a heated altercation, prompting a minor melee subsequently mirrored by some cross technical area exchanges.”
‘A pocket rocket with tenacity and skill’
Dominic King of the Daily Mail said: “There were 17 minutes to go when Jesse Marsch went for it. Leeds had got their way back into the game and were hunting a winner, so it was inevitable he would look to his bench.
“It was expected, too, he would go for Patrick Bamford, Leeds’s talisman, now he was back from injury, so up flashed the number 9. What made no sense on this occasion, however, was the man who was sacrificed in this frantic pursuit.
“Joe Gelhardt had himself been introduced as a substitute but his cameo had given Everton nightmares. A pocket rocket, with tenacity and skill, Gelhardt was the reason Leeds looked like maintaining their perfect start to the season at Elland Road.
“On a night when there were many nationalities on the pitch, Gelhardt and Anthony Gordon, another young Liverpudlian, were the ones who kept catching your eye: whatever good Leeds and Everton produced, their fingerprints were not far away.”
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