Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his first career hat-trick and James Rodriguez found the net on his home debut as Everton rebuilding under Carlo Ancelotti continued with a dominant win against 10-man West Brom.
The visitors took an early lead through an excellent solo effort by Grady Diangana, who broke from inside his own half before hitting a dipping effort beyond Jordan Pickford for his first top-flight goal.
Everton equalised midway through the first half when the video assistant referee overturned an offside decision after Calvert-Lewin cleverly backheeled into the net for his second goal in as many games.
Rodriguez who joined from Real Madrid then marked his home debut with a clinical finish on the stroke of half-time, sweeping a low effort into the far corner from Richarlison’s pass.
A dramatic few minutes at the end of the first half saw defender Kieran Gibbs and manager Slaven Bilic sent off for the visitors – Gibbs dismissed for shoving Rodriguez, and Bilic for remonstrating with the officials as they made their way off the pitch at half-time.
Despite that double setback the Baggies made the score level after the restart when Matheu Pereira curled in a stunning free-kick. However the parity was short-lived as Michael Keane stabbed in a loose ball after Sam Johnstone parried Richarlison’s header.
Calvert-Lewin then got his second when he slid in from close range after good work by Rodriguez and Richarlison and completed his hat-trick by heading in Rodriguez’s corner.
Everton who started with a deserved victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game have won their opening two league fixtures for the first time in eight years, while defeat for West Brom means they are still searching for their first points of the season.
Rodriguez who was excellent in the first match caught the eye with his impressive footwork and vision in Everton’s opening win against Tottenham and built on that in this game as he was involved in three of the home side’s five goals.
His strike to make it 2-1 was one of real quality as, despite having four West Brom players in close attention, he took a touch before sweeping into the far corner from outside the box.
He then showed great vision for Everton’s fourth, lofting the ball into the box for Richarlison, who squared for Calvert-Lewin, and was on hand again to provide the assist for the English striker’s third.
“I’m satisfied in front, but we have to be better at the back.” Carlo Ancelotti still believes that there is plenty of room for improvement for Everton despite their brilliant start to the season as he was speaking after post match.
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