That was some game! Everton have just finished an entertaining match, in which they have scored five goals against a spirited West Bromwich Albion to go temporarily top of the Premier League.
Let’s start with the positives. Everton were generally superb going forward after a sluggish start. Once they got going the Toffees were expansive, dynamic and created a slew of chances.
The home team could and really should have been ahead early on as Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a good chance to put the Blues into a lead.
That was just before West Brom took an unexpected lead, as new signing Grady Diangana advanced without a challenge and fired home past Jordan Pickford.
The Toffees weren’t dis-heartened despite that and eventually they responded well and got an equaliser when Calvert-Lewin back heeled a ball into the net. It was ruled out by the officials and then in stepped VAR and amazingly after a review, the goal was given! Even VAR is working in the Toffees favour this season!
Now Everton started playing some brilliant attacking football with James Rodriguez, who had started the game slowly, becoming increasingly influential.
It was the superbly gifted Colombian who gave the Toffees the lead as he cut inside and fired a nice, low shot into the corner of the goal for his first Everton strike. Hopefully there are many more to come this season.
Then came a mad few minutes as the Baggies defender Kieran Gibbs got into a row with Rodriguez, pushed him in the face and got sent off and was followed by West Brom’s manager the ex-Everton defender Slaven Billic, who ‘protested’ Gibb’s sending off.
After halftime the visitors again began in a spirited fashion and equalised somewhat against the run of play. However, the Blues continued to play some marvelous, expansive football.
Again West Brom couldn’t get hold of Rodriguez as he showed how good he is at finding space and using his exquisite technical ability to create time and opportunities. His creative talent is on a different level to anything we’ve seen at Goodison Park for a long, long time.
Richarlison too was again a constant threat, while Calvert-Lewin was giving the West Brom defenders a nightmare with his pace, strength in the air and movement.
But it wasn’t the striker who got Everton’s third. From a set-piece centre-back Micheal Keane stabbed home a goal, his second in the past two games after scoring against Salford City on Wednesday night. That restored the Toffees’ lead.
From now on the Blues were firmly in the driving seat and now they took full control as Calvert-Lewin added another goal nodding in from Rodriguez’s ball.
Richarlison who again didn’t get on the score sheet but created two goals, had a later strike ruled out for offside, a frustrating end to a good all-round performance.
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Five goals is a great return and the first time Everton have scored that number of goals in a single Premier League game since beating Burnley away on Boxing day in 2018.
However, even though we can certainly enjoy all those goals and great attacking play, defensively the Toffees looked vulnerable, especially early on.
Pickford had a less assured game more like his previous performances last season and so once again the jury is still out on his long-term future.
At centre-back, Yerry Mina and Keane looked more vulnerable and I feel that Everton really do need to get that new central defender there are chasing, as soon as possible.
Overall then, a great win showcasing some fantastic attacking football, which is a complete contrast from last season’s often dreadful offerings. But there are a few defensive issues though still to sort out before the Blues can go toe-to-toe with the best sides in the league.