Little emerged from this match which was not already known: Leeds United will once again be in contention at the head of the Premiership and Everton will not. Both were missing key players, which served to accentuate the strength of United's squad in comparison to Everton's, and the fact that the Yorkshire club has the greater reserves of boodle to match their ambitions.
For 15 minutes Everton were bright and inventive, Mark Hughes volleying over in the first attack. But as the game wore on, the summer lick of paint began to bubble and flake, exposing the underlying problems of long-term neglect and mal-administration which have left the club bereft of money and Walter Smith gamely attempting to blend ancient and modern.
Had the venerable Richard Gough been playing, Everton might not have conceded two soft goals from set-pieces, while the secondhalf introduction of Duncan Ferguson and Paul Gascoigne certainly enlivened matters if only because there was a real possibility that something offensive, abusive or insulting might take place.
In certain respects Gazza was made for Everton, for both club and player are living off their past and currently producing next to nothing. Everton have not had a decent side since the mid-80s, while Gascoigne left the most potent form of his career in Italy, along with his figure. "You hope he has a swansong," said David O'Leary. "We don't want to remember Paul for 20-minute appearances as substitute."
A 1990 tabloid leader said this: "Around Gazza and his young gang we can build a team to win the world. Four years on, remember you read it first in the Sun." Well, if any of you remember anything that is written here, let it be that Gascoigne is unlikely to bring anything to Goodison other than short-term publicity.
Only Eirik Bakke had cause to remember Gascoigne's Everton debut, the victim of an enthusiastic "challenge" which the referee Dermot Gallagher chose to interpret as accidental.
Everton will surely have to adapt their style to meet Ferguson's height, for there is no other way, whatever the protestations of United's manager. "The days of a big fella up front are gone," said O'Leary, who was not talking about Ferguson, but rather his decision to play three strikers.
That said, O'Leary's introduction of Mark Viduka was not an unqualified success and there were times when United's three-man midfield appeared uneasy and overstretched. A better team than Everton would have made them pay, and when Francis Jeffers finally managed to get clear his left-foot shot lacked sufficient power.
Alan Smith, who marked his debut at Anfield two seasons ago with a goal, but who has since been noted rather more for his macho menace than goalscoring threat, took his chances with Ian Rush-like economy. O'Leary believes the 19year-old is learning his lessons.
Smith had given Leeds a 2-0 halftime lead, both goals coming from corners: the first taken short by Lee Bowyer, with Smith glancing a header beyond an unprotected Paul Gerrard; the second taken long, with Smith profiting from a spectacular volley by Ian Harte which Gerrard parried brilliantly but could not hold. "You have to fancy us for fifth place," said O'Leary. His chairman was suitably impassive.
LEEDS UNITED: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Dacourt, Radebe, Woodgate, Bridges (Huckerby 79), Viduka, Bowyer, Smith, Bakke (Mills 79). Subs Not Used: Robinson, Molenaar, G Evans.
EVERTON: Gerrard, S Watson, Pistone, Weir, Unsworth, Nyarko, S Hughes (Ferguson 57), Ball, Jeffers, Gemmill (Gascoigne 74), M Hughes (Moore 64). Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Cadamarteri.
