Everton’s Wayne Rooney celebrates his hat-trick goal against West Ham at Goodison Park
Everton 4 West Ham United 0
Wayne Rooney rolled back the years with a wonder strike and a hat-trick as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0 at Goodison Park.
In front of new boss Sam Allardyce, who was watching from the stands, Rooney completed his treble with a goal from his own half. The former England striker said it was “one of the best” he’s ever scored.
In the 66th minute West Ham keeper Joe Hart’s clearance fell to Rooney who from 59.7 yards, according to the Daily Mail, sent the ball sailing back over the keeper and defenders’ heads into the net.
The hat-trick was Rooney’s first ever in a Everton shirt. Talking about his goal, Rooney told the BBC: “It was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored. I hit it as well as I’ve ever hit a football. To make it my first Everton hat-trick was special. It was a perfect moment.”
Rooney.. %uD83D%uDE80%uD83D%uDCA5%uD83D%uDD25 #FPL http://pic.twitter.com/3XSKhbJOXa
— Agan (@AganM_) November 30, 2017
Rooney’s man-of-the-match performance would have impressed Allardyce, who watched the match alongside Everton owner Farhad Moshiri.
The Toffees confirmed yesterday that Allardyce would take over from caretaker boss David Unsworth and he is reported to have signed a £6million-a-year deal at Goodison, says the Mail.
Speaking to the media before the match, Moshiri said he was delighted to appoint former England boss Allardyce. “I really want to give him the support he needs,” said Moshiri. “He can go as far as he wants. We need a strong leader, he gives us that.”
On Allardyce’s appointment, Rooney said he’s looking forward to a “new chapter” at Goodison Park. “Sam is a very good manager,” Rooney told the BBC. “I’m sure he’ll bring some new ideas. We’re looking forward to our first session with him.
“We had to win [against West Ham]. We had to stand up and show what good players we are. It’s the first step of where we want to go - moving up the league.”
In a shake-up of the Everton backroom staff, it’s reported that Allardyce will appoint Sammy Lee as his assistant manager and also bring former Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare into the coaching team.
Unsworth, who was in temporary charge for eight games, will return to his previous position as the under-23s’ manager.
After the 4-0 win against West Ham, in which Ashley Williams scored Everton’s final goal, Unsworth hailed the team’s performance - especially Rooney’s.
%uD83D%uDC4C%uD83C%uDFFC | "Was that the best goal you've ever scored, @waynerooney?" #EFCmatchday http://pic.twitter.com/A6pifgVs1q
— Everton (@Everton) November 29, 2017
“Every player was committed,” Unsworth said in an interview with the BBC. “I asked them to be men tonight. If you can stand up there and fight in times of trouble, that says a lot.
“Great hat-trick, great display from Wayne. He was captain for a reason. I’m delighted for the club. I took over when we were in the bottom three and we’ve got out of it in the six weeks.
“We expect more. The players have shown that when they are confident, we can keep clean sheets and score goals. Goodison must be a fortress for the rest of the season if we are to finish in the top half.
“I spoke to Sam Allardyce for about 10 or 15 minutes about the season in general, but I picked the team.”
Rooney’s goal and display was lauded by fans and press on social media, with many calling his strike the goal-of-the-season.
We round-up the best reaction on Twitter:
An all-round top performance from Rooney.
Wayne Rooney's stats v West Ham:
78 touches
60 passes
13 balls gained
4 clearances
4 shots
3 goals
Man of the Match %uD83D%uDE4C http://pic.twitter.com/79Zt9Wtpr6— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) November 29, 2017
His greatest ever goal?
Wayne Rooney has scored some sensational goals in his time %uD83D%uDE4C http://pic.twitter.com/vra1mD2EdI
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 29, 2017
Rio Ferdinand started a Twitter debate.
After decent night sleep, I've decided.... @WayneRooney Goal vs #ManCity was still the best goal of his career! Both unbelievable... difficult strikes but the size of game against Man City makes the overhead kick win! Thoughts pple??? #rooney #mufc #efc http://pic.twitter.com/2Ax764d1qu
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) November 30, 2017
A long wait for a treble.
2272 - Wayne Rooney%u2019s hat-trick tonight came 2272 days since his last (10th September 2011) %u2013 the longest gap between two hat-tricks by a player in @premierleague history. Screamer. http://pic.twitter.com/14u3GGP4GD
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 29, 2017
#ThrowbackThursday for Rooney.
15 years after his first #Everton goal, Wayne Rooney scored his first hat-trick for the Toffees.#ThrowbackThursday #EFC http://pic.twitter.com/vvwVi32bU5
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 30, 2017
Tale of two strikers.
How am I going to explain to my children that Lukaku missed from there and Rooney scored from there? http://pic.twitter.com/ZIA2YvprD7
— H. (@IconicYanited) November 29, 2017
Not bad for holding midfielder.
Wayne Rooney has just scored a hat trick playing holding midfield there
— Terry (@1878Terry) November 29, 2017
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