EVERTON 5-2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Dominic Calvert-Lewin notched the first hat-trick of his Everton career as he continued his own fine start to the new Premier League campaign that opened with his winner at Tottenham last Sunday. The young England striker will surely now make current England boss Gareth Southgate sit up and take notice after his blistering start to the season with 4 goals in his opening two games.

Everton started the game brightly in the opening 10 minutes against a West Brom side beaten 3-0 at home by Leicester City on day one of the new season. However, it was the visitors who took the lead with a lightening quick break and a great finish from new signing Grady Diangana. The permanent signing from West Ham, took the ball and travelled over 70 yards before having his decision making process aided by Yerry Mina backing off him most of the way. The winger accepted the invitation to shoot from the edge of the area and beat Jordan Pickford with ease.

Everton chased the game for the next 20 minutes before Calvert-Lewin’s quick-thinking brought Everton deservedly level although they were to VAR after the linesman had incorrectly flagged him offside. The striker thought he had equalised when he back-heeled past Sam Johnstone. The linesman thought that Séamus Coleman’s cross had been headed into his path by Richarlison, however, VAR confirmed it was the Albion right-back, Darnell Furlong. As a side issue Calvert-Lewin wasn’t in an offside position anyway which made the length of the VAR check a strange sidenote.

James scored his first goal in English football since his move from Real Madrid to put Everton 2-1 ahead in the game. This time Richarlison did supply the assist, finding the Colombia international lurking in space outside the area. James took the ball, set himself for the shot, and fired a superb strike inside Johnstone’s right post.

Kieran Gibbs then got himself sent off for striking out at James off the ball to bring the first half to a miserbale end for Slaven Bilic’s men after a bright start.

2 minutes into the second half they were level after a brilliant free kick from Pereira brought the 10 men level with a stunning free‑kick from 25 yards, curled into the top corner after a foul by Allan.

All that did however was shake Everton up for the 2nd half. 3 minutes later they were back in front through Michael Keane. The centre-back restored Everton’s lead when he prodded home the rebound after Johnstone parried Richarlison’s header from a Lucas Digne free-kick into his path.

The best goal of the game came next and it was the genius of James Rodriguez that created it. James played a rainbow chip into the path of Richarlison and he volley across goal and Calvert-Lewin slid the ball home for his second and Everton’s fourth.

Not long afterwards Calvert-Lewin completed his hat trick brilliantly heading home a James corner to make it 5-2.

Richarlison thought he had scored Everton’s 6th goal of the day after he brilliantly volleyed home Gylfi Sigurddson’s cross into the roof of the net only to see it correctly ruled out by VAR for offside. But all in all it was a very satisfactory afternoon for Carlo Ancelotti’s men who sit at the top of the Premier League.

Final Score : Everton 5-2 West Bromwich Albion

How they lined up :

Barry Cass