Dominic Calvert-Lewin ends goal drought as Everton beat Leeds at Elland Road

Given the unpredictability of both Everton and Leeds, perhaps this was not a great surprise on Elland Road’s field of grease.

Leeds might as well have been wearing slippers on a re-laid pitch that appeared to have been treated with olive oil. 

The new £300,000 surface, hastily installed in recent weeks, was to its team’s detriment for much of the night. 

Their play relies heavily on slickness and strong running and they looked a little uncertain about the turf underneath. Elements of doubt can blunt an edge.

The pitch was not the club’s fault and required an emergency short-term measure as a result of inclement weather. Undergoing that work last summer’s off-season was not feasible because of the tight turnaround. 

Less than ideal for Marcelo Bielsa but Everton understood the conditions better in the first half and built a lead that was eventually insurmountable once Leeds had grasped the grass.

For Everton, it was a quick response to Saturday’s shock defeat by Newcastle, with Leeds failing to follow up that stunning performance at Leicester. They were far more progressive after half-time – this another fascinating encounter to add to their collection – but the damage had been done.

Bielsa was already hopping mad by the time Everton scored their first, on nine minutes, at the end of a move that began with Jack Harrison losing his footing.

Lucas Digne was set away on then left, whipping in a delicious delivery that nobody in white fancied dealing with. The cross was inviting, with Gylfi Sigurdsson nipping between defenders to slide past Illan Meslier. No defender has provided more assists than Digne this season.

Leeds were not themselves. They did create moments – Patrick Bamford heading over, Ezgjan Alioski volleying against the base of the post from a smart corner – but Everton were more potent. Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasted one presentable opportunity but would not pass up another four minutes before the break.

Again, the hosts did not really switch on. Sigurdsson’s corner was flicked towards the back post by Ben Godfrey; Calvert-Lewin ghosted in, forcing home his first league goal since the beginning of December. The England manager, Gareth Southgate, presumably took notes in the main stand.

To their credit, Leeds approached the second half with renewed vigour. Raphinha pounced as Everton floundered inside their own box, the Brazilian passing into Robin Olsen’s far corner.

The mood changed, Leeds smelling a comeback. Olsen had been an authoritative presence in Jordan Pickford’s absence, completing saves with minimal fuss, and was required to pull off some rather more complicated stops thereafter.

One double save underlined his credentials, flicking away a deflection off Bamford and then quickly rising to thwart Raphinha’s follow up. Harrison’s volley was dealt with, while Bamford clipped the bar with a header. Pressure built but Everton held firm.