Everton kick started their 2020/21 season in perfect style last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, and have carried that on again this week.
The Blues claimed a 5-2 win over West Bromwich Albion in their second Premier League fixture of the season and their first at Goodison Park.
The match saw new boys James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan put in impressive performances, but a hat-trick from Dominic Calvert-Lewin grabbed the headlines.
Here is how the national media reacted to the Blues’ victory over the Baggies:
The Times, via Paul Joyce
“Amid the flurry of goals and red cards, it was James Rodríguez, unsurprisingly, who conjured a moment of sumptuous ingenuity to bring some order to the chaos.
“Everton had just taken advantage of more slapdash West Bromwich Albion defending to regain the lead when the ball arrived at the feet of the Colombia midfielder just outside the penalty area.
“Rodríguez was confronted by a wall of players but instantly recognised his options and delivered a pass from his vast repertoire that was akin to a pitching wedge into the green at Winged Foot.
“The lofted ball picked out the run of Richarlison, whose volley was turned in at the far post by Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the second of his three goals. The hat-trick hero would have to cede centre-stage on this occasion.”
The Guardian, via Andy Hunter
“The front-row desk of the press box here took a second-half pounding from the fists of Slaven Bilic, sent to the stands over his furious reaction to the incident that guided Everton and West Brom to opposite ends of the table. His team took one, too, from the precision of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and vision of James Rodríguez, as Carlo Ancelotti maintained his perfect start in his first full season as Everton manager.
“Calvert-Lewin recorded the first hat-trick of his Everton career as he continued his own fine start to a campaign that opened with his winner at Tottenham last Sunday. James scored his first goal in English football since his move from Real Madrid and illuminated the afternoon with touches of genuine class. He was also involved in the moment that turned everything when, seconds after sweeping Everton ahead, he collapsed to the ground after taking a shove in the face from Kieran Gibbs.
“The foolish left-back could have no complaints over the red card that followed from the referee, Mike Dean. Bilic concurred, but only long after berating the match official and receiving a red card for his own protests. Until Gibbs’s dismissal the visitors had impressed but they were inevitably besieged thereafter, hence the repeated second-half thump of Croatian fist on Goodison wood.”
The Independent, via Carl Markham
"James Rodriguez announced himself to an empty Goodison Park with a goal on his home debut as Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hat-trick ensured a comfortable 5-2 victory for Everton over 10-man West Brom.
“The Colombian's renowned deftness of touch and eye for goal from outside the area saw him fire home just before half-time, prompting a meltdown from the Baggies that saw Kieran Gibbs and manager Slaven Bilic sent off in the immediate aftermath.
“It was difficult to understand what prompted the former England left-back to smack Rodriguez in the face as the bump he was given by the ex-Real Madrid playmaker was in no way aggressive.
“Bilic has form for emotional outbursts and – even though he must have known he could have little argument with referee Mike Dean – he confronted the official at half-time and was also dismissed. The Croat was probably still seething after seeing the offside flag against Calvert-Lewin's clever back-heeled equaliser correctly overruled by VAR.”
ESPN
“James Rodriguez scored his first Premier League goal and Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a hat trick as Everton thrashed 10-man West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
“West Brom started brightly and opened the scoring through Grady Diangana, his first league goal, but when Calvert-Lewin equalised after an intervention from the Video Assistant Referee, Everton took control.
“Just before half time Rodriguez put Everton ahead from the edge of the box with a finish full of quality, and shortly afterwards was pushed in the face by defender Kieran Gibbs, who received a deserved red card.
“Combustible West Brom manager Slaven Bilic was also red-carded by referee Mike Dean as he remonstrated with the official at the break.
“The Baggies bagged a superb equaliser from Matheus Pereira's 30-yard free-kick shortly after the restart, but the Toffees' greater quality against 10 men then saw them surge ahead.
“Michael Keane put them in front from close range before Calvert-Lewin took his tally for the season to four in two games as he netted two more to complete his first hat-trick for the Merseyside club.
“Everton appeared sloppy at times compared with their 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in their season opener. But their improvement from last season continues to be dramatic, while for West Brom eight goals conceded in two games shows the measure of their task in the Premier League.
“Everton created 32 goal attempts in their opening two matches, with four of them converted by Calvert-Lewin.”
