EPL: Everton, Leeds Record Victory in thrilling games
Everton continued their impressive start to the Premier League season with a dominant win against a 10-man West Brom as Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit a first career hat-trick and James Rodriguez scored on his home debut.
The Baggies 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 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 crazy few minutes at the end of the first half saw Kieran Gibbs and manager Slaven Bilic sent off for the visitors – Gibbs dismissed for pushing Rodriguez, and Bilic for remonstrating with the officials as they made their way off the pitch at half-time.
Despite that double setback West Brom pulled level straight after the break when Matheu Pereira curled in a stunning free-kick.
But, come back was short-lived as Michael Keane stabbed in a loose ball after Sam Johnstone parried Richarlison’s header.
Calvert-Lewin 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 to make it 5-2 in favour of Carlos Ancelotti’s side.
Everton 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.
Elsewhere in the premier league, Fulham recorded their second consecutive defeat since the start of the new Premier League season as they were edged 4-3 by fellow newcomers, Leeds United on Saturday.
After losing 4-3 at champions Liverpool on the opening weekend, Helda Costa fired Marcelo Bielsa’s free-scoring side ahead in the fifth minute.
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after a foul on Joe Bryan.
Bryan was penalised himself for his shove on Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich restored Leeds’ advantage with a 40th-minute spot-kick.
In the 51st minute, Patrick Bamford steered a right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Leeds struck again six minutes later with a superb strike from Costa.
Fulham pulled one back in the 62nd minute through Bobby Decordova-Reid
And Mitrovic’s towering header four minutes later set up a tense finale, but the promoted Cottagers fell to a second successive defeat.
Leeds’ opening games have seen 14 goals, which is the most for a top-flight side’s first two matches since Wolves in 1962-63.
Saturday’s Results
Everton 5-2 West Brom
Leeds 4-3 Fulham
Man Utd 1-3 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-1 West Ham
Sunday’s Fixtures
12:00 Southampton v Spurs
14:00 Newcastle v Brighton
16:30 Chelsea v Liverpool
19:00 Leicester v Burnley
