Match ends, Leeds United 1, Everton 2.
LeedsLeeds United1EvertonEverton2
Goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Everton a hard-fought win at Leeds United to take the Toffees fifth in the Premier League.
The visitors took a ninth-minute lead when Lucas Digne's excellent low cross from the left flank was steered first time into the net by an unmarked Sigurdsson.
Leeds came close to equalising but Ezgjan Alioski volleyed against the post and Pascal Struijk's header was acrobatically tipped over by Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
England striker Calvert-Lewin then grabbed his 12th Premier League goal of the season with a close-range diving header after Ben Godfrey had flicked on Sigurdsson's left-wing corner.
But Leeds were the better side in the second half and Raphinha pulled one back with a calm finish from Patrick Bamford's pass, although the hosts could not grab an equaliser.
The victory moves the Toffees, who started the day eighth, above Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham, although the Hammers will regain fifth if they beat Aston Villa in a later game on Wednesday.
- Relive Leeds v Everton as it happened, plus the rest of Wednesday's Premier League matches
- Lawro's predictions v Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett
Everton's revival under Ancelotti continues
Everton had to work hard to claim their 11 league win of the season and the result continues their impressive revival over the past 14 months.
In December 2019, they were in the bottom three when Marco Silva was sacked, with caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson taking them up the table, before Carlo Ancelotti got the job.
Ancelotti guided them to 12th last season and they have built on that in 2020-21 and are now in contention to qualify for European football after a three-season absence.
Calvert-Lewin has been key to Everton's success and he made a return to goalscoring form after seven league games without a goal.
Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, with 15, has scored more league goals than Calvert-Lewin, who netted his 12th in 19 league matches with his diving header from Sigurdsson's corner late in the first half.
Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson had earlier put Everton ahead as he got free of his marker to finish from eight yards after Digne's brilliant cross from the left.
With Leeds pushing for an equaliser, Calvert-Lewin had a chance to score his second of the night after a quick counter-attack, but could not beat home goalkeeper Illan Meslier, although the miss did not prove costly.
Ancelotti handed a late debut to Joshua King, the Norway striker signed from Bournemouth on transfer deadline day, and he helped his team see out the victory.
This win means Everton have picked up 16 points from their last six away matches and only Manchester United and Leicester have won more games away from home.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Leeds United
Starting XI
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameMeslierAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number2Player nameAylingAverage rating
7.19
- Squad number21Player nameStruijkAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number6Player nameCooperAverage rating
6.66
- Squad number10Player nameAlioskiAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number23Player namePhillipsAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number18Player nameRaphinhaAverage rating
7.90
- Squad number43Player nameKlichAverage rating
6.26
- Squad number15Player nameDallasAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number22Player nameHarrisonAverage rating
6.59
- Squad number9Player nameBamfordAverage rating
6.83
Substitutes
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameRobertsAverage rating
5.56
- Squad number17Player nameHélder CostaAverage rating
4.91
- Squad number19Player namePablo HernándezAverage rating
5.34
Everton
Starting XI
Avg
- Squad number33Player nameOlsenAverage rating
7.71
- Squad number4Player nameHolgateAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number13Player nameMinaAverage rating
6.81
- Squad number22Player nameGodfreyAverage rating
7.66
- Squad number12Player nameDigneAverage rating
6.94
- Squad number16Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
7.01
- Squad number21Player nameAndré GomesAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number17Player nameIwobiAverage rating
6.17
- Squad number10Player nameG SigurdssonAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number7Player nameRicharlisonAverage rating
5.95
- Squad number9Player nameCalvert-LewinAverage rating
6.65
Substitutes
Avg
- Squad number5Player nameKeaneAverage rating
6.12
- Squad number11Player nameKingAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number26Player nameDaviesAverage rating
5.24
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Meslier
- 2AylingBooked at 79mins
- 21Struijk
- 6Cooper
- 10AlioskiSubstituted forHernándezat 78'minutes
- 23Phillips
- 18Raphinha
- 43KlichSubstituted forRobertsat 69'minutes
- 15Dallas
- 22HarrisonBooked at 16minsSubstituted forHélder Costaat 87'minutes
- 9Bamford
Substitutes
- 11Roberts
- 13Casilla
- 17Hélder Costa
- 19Hernández
- 24Davis
- 35Cresswell
- 46Shackleton
- 47Jenkins
- 52Huggins
Everton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33OlsenBooked at 90mins
- 4HolgateBooked at 89mins
- 13Mina
- 22GodfreyBooked at 90mins
- 12Digne
- 16Doucouré
- 21André Gomes
- 17IwobiSubstituted forKingat 87'minutes
- 10G SigurdssonSubstituted forDaviesat 89'minutes
- 7RicharlisonSubstituted forKeaneat 80'minutes
- 9Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 5Keane
- 8Delph
- 11King
- 18Nkounkou
- 19Rodríguez
- 20Bernard
- 23Coleman
- 26Davies
- 31Neves Virgínia
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
Match Stats
Home TeamLeedsAway TeamEverton
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Everton 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Patrick Bamford.
Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Michael Keane.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luke Ayling (Leeds United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Booking
Robin Olsen (Everton) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Ben Godfrey (Everton) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Tom Davies replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Booking
Mason Holgate (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Raphinha (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Mason Holgate (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Hélder Costa replaces Jack Harrison.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Joshua King replaces Alex Iwobi.
Post update
Attempt saved. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré with a through ball.
Post update
Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Yerry Mina (Everton).
Post update
Attempt saved. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Michael Keane replaces Richarlison.
Booking
Luke Ayling (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Luke Ayling (Leeds United).
- The Monday Night Club: How has Pep turned things round and can Micah get Timo Werner firing?
- Hip Hop that shook America: How Kanye West challenged ideas about rap and religion
Comments
Join the conversation
And it's a Grand Old team to support,
And if you know your history,
It's enough to make your heart go woooaaahh
I knew you wouldn’t let me down on my 40th blues.
COYB
Well played Leeds.
Mark Lawrenson BBC football expert.
No you're not.
The performance was pretty much at the same level as against Leicester, but the finishing wasn't as clinical.
Bring on Palace - should be 3 points if we can stop slipping over on the new pitch.
MOT
Strong defence - lucky ar times- and I can't help but feel we look a lot calmer with Olsen in goal.
This, by the way is a very good Leeds side in the making.
Well done boys for digging deep. Good 3 points against a very good Leeds United side.
Oh and to stay on subject well done Everton, closing the gap on your red rivals!
Some pin point classy passing forward by Leeds. They should be higher in the league.