MY ACCOUNT
Everton winger Anthony Gordon is enjoying a breakthrough season at Goodison Park.
Despite the Toffees’ poor form, the Liverpudlian’s talent has blossomed this campaign — first under Rafa Benitez and now with Frank Lampard at the helm.
The academy product, who turns 21 today, has followed a familiar path to the first team. After excelling at youth level, he was a given a handful of opportunities with the senior side before landing a loan move to Championship outfit Preston last term.
As the Blues prepare to face Manchester City on Saturday, we examine Gordon’s progress to date and gauge how much he could yet go on to achieve.
Teenage kicks
Gordon joined the Everton academy aged 11 and impressed his youth coaches with a mix of dribbling ability and an eye for goal.
Aged 16, the Toffees’ teen talent was given his first glimpse of first-team action by then boss Sam Allardyce, replacing Kevin Mirallas as an 88th-minute substitute in a Europa League encounter at Cypriot side Apollon Limassol in December 2017.
Overlooked by Marco Silva during the Portuguese’s tenure at Goodison Park, Gordon had to wait two years for his next opportunity, which came when caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson threw him into the fray for a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester.
After a couple of substitute appearances, his first Premier League start came when Carlo Ancelotti entrusted the homegrown attacker to make his full debut in a goalless draw against city rivals Liverpool.
Gordon then signed a five-year contract at the club, sealing his long-term future on the blue side of Stanley Park.
Style and substance
A half-season loan at Preston gave Gordon some much-needed minutes last term and he is now firmly established as part of the first-team squad at Goodison Park.
He offers a constant forward threat with hard running and incisive runs, meaning he could play an important role in Everton’s bid to avoid the drop.
With three goals and two assists in his last seven Premier League outings, Gordon is now producing the end product to go with his raw talent.
The highlight of his season so far came in a man-of-the-match display in the 3-0 victory against Leeds, after which he heaped praise on his boss Lampard.
Gordon said: “There is a thing that tactics come from foreign managers and them being geniuses but we need to start giving recognition to the young English managers, such as the gaffer.
“He is a tactical genius and I am thriving off that. I’m learning from him every day, stuff I hadn’t heard before.
“He is an unbelievable manager and he has surprised me, really, with how good he is tactically.”
International breakthrough
Although he plays in an incredibly competitive position, Gordon has also begun to make strides in the Three Lions set-up.
Helped by Emile Smith Rowe’s call up to the senior team, the youngster seized his chance when given a start in last November’s 2023 European Under-21 Championship qualifier.
His deflected strike, eventually credited as an own goal, opened the scoring after four minutes before he eventually got his name on the scoresheet with a back-post tap-in seven minutes later.
Celebrating his man-of-the-match award following the 3-1 victory, Gordon said: “It was a really good game, I was happy to score, we started really well and eased off in the game. I loved it.
“The first one was an own goal? I’m claiming that one all the way. The second one, Conor [Gallagher] did really well and I just had to tap it in.”
Blessed with Lampard’s tutelage at club level, Gordon looks set to earn plenty more caps under ex-Everton midfielder Lee Carsley in the England U-21s ranks.
Flash Gordon
Gordon’s performances are undoubtedly earning attention.
Broadcaster Richard Keys has even likened him to a former Merseyside great, saying: “They’ve got a gem in Anthony Gordon. I’ll say again — the ‘new’ Steven Gerrard. He reminds me so much of the former Liverpool skipper.
“His gangly teenage gate is the same. He loves a tackle. He can spray passes about and run all day. He’s also got an eye for a goal. He’s special. But he’s about all they have got despite the big spend — and he was for nothing.”
Bayern Munich have shown interest previously, with many others now surely keeping tabs.
On those links to the Bavarian giants, Gordon said: “I’ve never wanted to leave Everton. I’m a Scouser and a home bird as well.
“The thought of leaving home scares me. It probably wasn’t for me and I never really considered it.”
The Toffees prospect is clearly happy at Finch Farm and, rather than flying the nest, looks set to soar to even greater heights at his hometown club.
