Everton have finished their mid-season tour of Australia undefeated, winning the final game in style 5-1 against Western Sydney Australia and here are FIVE things we have learnt.
- Star-boy Anthony Gordon has joined an elite list of Everton players to have scored a hat-trick. Now I know it was only Western Sydney Wanderers, but he still had to be in the right places at the right time and he did exactly that. In a recent interview, Frank Lampard spoke about the importance of his wide players being in the right positions to get ‘nothing’ goals and that was evident in the Crystal Palace win when Gordon was on hand to tap in from close range, and the same in the win in Australia where he followed up Demarai Gray’s effort.
59' Goal! Gordon gets his second at the end of a fast, flowing move out from the back. 👏
🔵 3-1 🇦🇺 #SydneySuperCup pic.twitter.com/CYVItJlRPP
— Everton (@Everton) November 23, 2022
2. Technically, this is three in one. Tom Cannon, Stanley Mills and Isaac Price.
We’ve heard plenty about Tom Cannon and Stan Mills in the U23’s this season, Cannon scoring 6 in 10 so far this season and Stan Mills scoring 4 in 6 from the right wing. Isaac Price has also had an impressive season in the U23 this season with 3 goals and 2 assists in 11 appearances and the Northern Ireland youth international has caught the eye of Frank Lampard who started him in both games in Australia after Tom Davies was sent home after picking up an injury and the 19 year-old took his opportunity with both hands being labelled as the ‘best player on the pitch‘, and with the news that James Garner and Tom Davies will be out until January/February and three/four weeks, Isaac Price might get a few more opportunities than expected.
3. We are cursed. It is the only logical explanation, that or during training the players are actually having a royal rumble with the number of injuries we seem to pick up. James Garner is expected to be out for around two months with a back injury, with Tom Davies and Yerry Mina likely to return to training in December.
4. Centre-backs. With Coady ineligible to play against his parent club Wolves on Boxing Day and Yerry Mina once again injured, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate are vying to partner James Tarkowski, Frank Lampard has a decision to make. Michael Keane has made one substitute appearance in the league this season, whereas Mason Holgate started the first four games of the season before picking up a knee injury which kept him out for 7 games.
Would should partner Tarkowski vs Wolves
Holgate
Keane
5. Reinforcements are needed in January! Especially in attack.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s current injury record as it is and Maupay not getting the service or just not being good enough, Lampard and Kevin Thelwell need to act fast in January as we cannot finish the window without an attacking addition. Tom Cannon might get some opportunities but he is unknown and it seems very unfair to put such pressure on the youngster.
Anthony Gordon, Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray have been hot and cold so far this season, each showing glimpses of what Lampard expects from them and hopefully with a bit of confidence, especially for Gordon we might see a better return in the second half of the season in terms of goals/assists from all three.
What did you make of the tour of Australia?
Do you think we need reinforcements in January?
Let us know in the comments or get in touch via our socials Facebook and Twitter @EFCVital