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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas

Everton player ratings as Anthony Gordon and Isaac Price star in win over Western Sydney Wanderers

Asmir Begovic 6
Captain for the night, Begovic had little to do. Ramy Najjarine's effort from 20 yards out was just beyond his reach and the only other scare that came his way was a shot that hit the bar after a free kick was headed across goal. Came off for Any Lonergan at half-time.

Nathan Patterson 8
Put in a lovely cross for Neal Maupay's goal and was keen to get forward all game. This saw him brought down by an Alessandro Lopane lunge that earned the Wanderers player a booking. Highlight was seeing him racing to support Anthony Gordon in the build-up to the third goal. Gordon's cross was out of reach but the intent gave the defence another problem to worry about.

James Tarkowski 6
Picked out Demarai Gray with a lovely ball in the first half. Gray was set free down the left and brought the ball down well but his effort flashed well wide. Came off for Michael Keane at half-time.

AS IT HAPPENED: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Everton highlights and full match recap

READ MORE: Midfielder who could have been an Everton hero got David Beckham treatment after beating Pele record

Mason Holgate 6
Showed composure to sweep up the first attack of the game. Couldn't quite recover to block Najjarine's goalscoring effort. Did not need to do a huge amount as Everton dominated and was replaced by Reece Welch in the second half.

Ruben Vinagre 6
Nutmegged Gabriel Cleur as he got forward down the left. Didn't provide the same attacking threat as Patterson down the right but did not have a bad game before being subbed off midway through the second half.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 7
Recovered from a knock just above his knee in the Celtic game to be available to partner Isaac Price. Put in a box-to-box performance that saw him test Daniel Margush from close range. Seconds after a hesitation cost him a good chance in the box had the composure to feed Patterson in the build up to the first goal.

Isaac Price 8
Another composed - and combative - performance from the young central midfielder, who has probably had the best individual boost from this trip within the Everton squad.

Demarai Gray 7
Not quite there with his end product but was involved in some lovely moves and repeatedly got into good positions. His shot was pushed wide and into Gordon's path for the third goal. Always showed intent.

Dwight McNeil 7
Played deeper and more centrally than normal but was able to direct a lot of Everton's attacks. Was incensed by a lunge on him late in the second half that was unnecessary and earned Cleur a booking.

Anthony Gordon 9
Hat-trick hero and the best player on the pitch. A cheeky flick for his first, a poacher's finish for his second - which came from a move he started - and saved the best for his third.

Neal Maupay 8
A confidence-boosting performance that saw him link nicely with the attacking support around him. Nice header to kickstart proceedings and was unlucky not to get another, his curling effort narrowly missing the top corner.

SUBS

Andy Lonergan 6
Captain for the second half, Lonergan largely looked on and could do nothing about Romain Amafitano's effort that hit the bar.

Michael Keane 6
Had little to do in the second half. Made a good block from Najjarine and was the senior defender by the end of the match.

Stanley Mills 7
Involved in some nice moves when he came on. Did well down the right before cutting inside for the shot that led to Tom Cannon's goal, then later sent Doucoure free for a move that almost ended in a second for Cannon.

Tom Cannon 8
Got his goal as he showed a poacher's instinct in the box. Could have had a second after firing over from a Doucoure cross and later showing strength to create space to shoot from 20 yards and force a good save from Murgash.

*Reece Welch, Joe Anderson and Seb Quirk all came on in the latter stages of the second half.

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