'Where would they be?' - National media react to…

'Where would they be?' - National media react to Everton draw at Leeds United

It ended honours even at Elland Road following a pulsating 90 minutes of football between Leeds United and Everton.

Anthony Gordon fired the Blues in front during the first half, though the visitors failed to hold on for all three points due to Luis Sinisterra's low strike getting the better of Jordan Pickford after the break. It means Everton have now drawn their last three games as they continue their search for a first win of the campaign.

Left frustrated by being unable to register Neal Maupay for this fixture, the Blues were left calling upon their 21-year-old prodigy once again to deliver in the final third. A draw was arguably a fair outcome in the end, but how did the national media see the game?

VERDICT: Farhad Moshiri must deliver on promise as Everton transfer truth leaves Frank Lampard stranded

RATINGS: Nathan Patterson and Amadou Onana outstanding but three players poor at Leeds

We have rounded up reaction from various outlets to the Blues' performance at the home of the Whites, below.

'Gordon's price tag can only have risen'

Louise Taylor of the Guardian wrote:

"It took Gordon 17 minutes to remind Elland Road that wingers, too, can score. The 21-year-old’s second goal in two games was a very good one, involving an assured, beautifully weighted, low shot placed beneath Illan Meslier after Gordon had ghosted into the area to meet Alex Iwobi’s fine through pass with the sort of blindside run Lampard built a career on.

"Gordon’s price tag can only have risen following a goal he initiated from the left. Although Sinisterra – the Colombia international and former Feyenoord winger starting his first league game for Leeds – attempted to intercept the ball, his intervention merely resulted in it falling for McNeil to play Iwobi in."

'Everton were coping with the pressure'

Henry Winter of the Times wrote:

"The tempo dipped only when Pickford very deliberately ran down the clock. England pointed to his watch, signalling he was adding time on, but most of the 36,338 here wanted the referee to reach for a card. Leeds kept attacking, and Lampard kept eschewing the opportunity to make any changes.

"Everton were coping with the pressure, especially their centre backs, Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, with the former showing he can play in a back four. Such was their control that Lampard did not make any changes. He could do with holding on to Gordon."

'The Everton manager was taking everything in his stride'

Dominic King of the Daily Mail wrote:

"There was a whiff of expectation – perhaps even over-confidence – in the air beforehand, with the home supporters adamant that Elland Road would work its magic once more. As was the case against Chelsea, Leeds started well and the bulk of the early play was in Everton’s half.

"It was easy on the eye, to a certain point, but you never got the sense that Lampard felt uncomfortable. The Everton manager was taking everything in his stride, from the gestures that were aimed at him by fans behind his dugout to the ridiculous histrionics of Marsch.

"Marsch gives the impression he knows a camera is on him and when Everton tried to take the sting out of the game, with Jordan Pickford slowing things down, his prolonged pacing of the technical area, hands in the air and pointing to his watch, was nothing other than for show."

'Where would they be without Gordon?'

Rob Bagchi of the Telegraph wrote:

"For the second time in the space of a few days Anthony Gordon showed why he is so precious to Everton, yet they once again failed to hold on to a lead established by their young forward and the search for a first Premier League win continues.

"Just like he did against Brentford at the weekend, Gordon opened the scoring and showed why Chelsea are willing to invest heavily in his talent. Again, Frank Lampard’s team had to settle for another draw after Luis Sinisterra levelled in the second half.

"It remains a disappointing start to Everton’s season but where would they be without Gordon? He led their attack in the absence of an out-and-out striker as Neal Maupay was ineligible. He created Everton’s best moments and almost set up a winner for Nathan Patterson in the final moments.

"Gareth Southgate is surely taking note of his progress. So far Gordon has only been capped by the Under-21s but is making a strong case for a senior call-up with a couple of months to go before the World Cup."

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