Lucas Paqueta and Niclas Fullkrug were on target as West Ham United saw off David Moyes’ Everton with a 2-1 win in the Premier League Summer Series in Chicago.
On a night when two big-money signings hit the net and a host of promising young talents gave their hopes of first-team involvement a timely boost, Graham Potter will have been more than content with the vast majority of the 20 players to take to the pitch at Solider Field.
After Idrissa Gana Gueye gave Everton the lead following a quick breakaway midway through the first-half, Lucas Paqueta pounced on a dreadful Mark Travers display just before the interval.
Niclas Fullkrug then fizzed a laser-guided left-footed shot into the bottom corner on 64 minutes as West Ham United bounced back from Saturday’s defeat by Manchester United in New Jersey.
Here is how Hammers News rated the West Ham players.
21) Wes Foderingham – 4/10
After Alphonse Areola’s misplaced pass led to Bruno Fernandes’ winner four days earlier, his veteran replacement very nearly committed an identical blunder inside the first six minutes.
Foderingham’s distribution improved after that early scare – there was some good ‘sweeper-keeper’ stuff – but the 34-year-old did not cover himself in glory as Gueye’s shot squirmed through his body. He also flapped at a second-half Everton free-kick, from which Carlos Alcarez fired wide.
West Ham plan to step up their goalkeeper pursuit this week, and it’s no wonder why.
2) Kyle Walker-Peters – 5/10
Some tidy footwork but the free-agent signed from Southampton was not overly involved at either end. Off at half-time.
15) Konstantinos Mavropanos – 6/10
Started off on the right of a three-man backline before stepping into the centre after half-time. Some of his more ambitious passes failed to hit the target but the big Greek international – Mavropanos has been linked with a move to Roma – dealt with the pace and movement of Everton’s new £27 million striker Thierno Barry pretty well.
Pulled up with a late injury, and replaced by Ollie Scarles. Off after 85 minutes
42) Kaelan Casey – 3/10
Academy kid Kaelan Casey is considered a West Ham first-teamer these days but, clearly, he still has a lot to learn.
It was Casey’s poor pass which sold Freddie Potts short and led directly to Gueye’s opener. Another poor giveaway nearly cost West Ham again on 29 mins; The 20-year-old clearly nervous and struggling with the ball-playing responsibilities required off him in the middle of a back-three.
Casey did make one good block from an Iliman Ndiaye shot after another error in possession, though, this time from Kyle Walker-Peters.
Off at half-time.
3) Max Kilman – 6/10
Caught two-v-one in transition for Everton’s opener, albeit through no fault of his own. Kilman then made a no-nonsense tackle to halt another Toffees break before Paqueta’s equaliser.
Allowed to be more aggressive free, from his ‘CCB’ responsibilities. Like at Wolves, when he had Craig Dawson alongside him, Kilman looks more comfortable as one of the wide centre-backs. It was his high, hopeful ball, meanwhile, which Travers bungled seconds before Paqueta bounced.
Off at half-time
12) El Hadji Malick Diouf – 4/10
The risks of an attack-minded wing-back were exposed here. Diouf was caught high up pitch for Gueye goal, unable to get back in time. Everton also looked to exploit the space in behind the £19 million signing from Slavia Prague, with the marauding Diouf thankful to Kilman’s interventions on a couple of occasions.
His delivery from wide was poor, too, though some speedy one-two combinations and early cross should be a sign of things to come. Off at half-time.
32) Freddie Potts – 7/10
Freddie Potts earned Graham Potter’s praise off the bench against Man United, and more than justified his place in the starting XI in Illinois.
While he played an unwitting role in Everton’s opener – caught on his heels after Casey’s misplaced square ball – Potts was very impressive in possession. Always positive and keen to dictate, he clearly loves a lofted pass into the penalty area.
One crunching tackle left Gueye shaken, with the industrious Potts picking up a booking for another full-blooded lunge. Expect to see more of the young man in the months to come. Off at half-time.
8) James Ward-Prowse – 5/10
A trademark JWP free-kick very nearly beat Travers just 12 minutes in. The England international made a few useful late runs into the box from the right side of midfield, but his influence was pretty limited.
Off at half-time
39) Andy Irving – 7/10
Scottish utility man Andy Irving scored against Grasshopper Zurich in Switzerland and nearly repeated the trick here. His rasping drive forced Travers into a fine save on the half-hour mark.
Like Potts alongside him, Irving was neat and tidy in possession. With Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez potentially on the way, there may well be a role for his left-footed, snappy distribution.
Off at 61 minutes.
10) Lucas Paqueta – 7/10
A mixed bag, even if Paqueta ended the afternoon with a goal and an assist. He barely featured in the opening 45 minutes until prodding into an empty net following Travers’ disastrous attempt at a punched clearance.
The mercurial Brazilian then grabbed a somewhat-inadvertent assist when his simple pass was followed up by Fullkrug’s fine solo effort.
Looks more comfortable in a deeper role but must be careful not to get caught in dangerous areas when dawdling. Some headed keepy-uppies and a backheel combo late on showcased his returning confidence, though it still feels as if Paqueta is scratching the very surface of his true potential.
Off at 90 minutes.
50) Callum Marshall – 7/10
Very impressive. Marshall did miss a big chance one minute in, Travers blocking his shot after the youngster pounced on a Michael Keane mistake, but his overall performance was extremely eye-catching.
Marshall pressed ferociously from the front, drawing a yellow card from Keane later on in the half, while the intelligent link-play he demonstrated with his back to goal was also a highlight.
One of the breakout stars of the pre-season tour, Callum Marshall scored brilliantly against Grasshopper Zurich. Another relentless display should give Potter plenty to ponder.
Off at half-time.
Substitutes
23 – Alphonse Areola
5) Nayef Aguerd – 7/10
Like Kilman, the Moroccan stepped out of defence aggressively, freed up by his role as a wide centre-back in a defensive triumvirate.
Tried to get West Ham up the pitch and break the lines. His excellent front-post defending denied Everton a potential equaliser in stoppage time. Nayef Aguerd has a new shirt number this season, and potentially a fresh start awaits him too.
On at half-time.
11) Niclas Fullkrug – 8/10
Fullkrug loves dropping deep and linking play, and did that superbly in Chicago. The £27 million signing from Borussia Dortmund also took his goal brilliantly, working hard defensively to win possession back before striding forwards and finishing with confidence.
There were a few real bursts of pace, too. Clearly, Fullkrug is a more athletic number nine than he is often given credit for. A big season awaits for a man desperate to silence his critics.
On at half-time
17) Luis Guilherme – 7/10
Another of West Ham’s 2024 additions, and another with a point to prove.
Luis Guilherme looked confident, zippy, and determined to speed things up. He worked hard to get back in the right position in his wing-back role, while popping up in all manner of attacking positions at the other end.
Did brilliantly to snatch a loose ball and create a late chance for Lewis Orford, and drew a yellow card from a frustrated James Garner with an explosive surge.
Clearly desperate to impress, and impress he did. On at half-time.
20) Jarrod Bowen – 5/10
Won the ball high up the pitch with typical endeavour shortly after his introduction but saw his shot blocked by Keane. Missed his kick entirely after clever Paqueta pull-back later in the half. Overshadowed by matchwinner Fullkrug.
On at half-time
22 – Maxwel Cornet
24) Guido Rodriguez – 5/10
Industrious as expected. Played one dreadful pass which led to an Everton free-kick. Not much else to say.
On at half-time
25) Jean-Clair Todibo – 6/10
Promising.
Todibo took risks in possession and invited the Everton press on occasions. One excellent defensive header at the back post helped see off a dangerous Dwight McNeil in-swinger. On at half-time.
28) Tomas Soucek – 5/10
Some lovely combinations with Wan-Bissaka on the right. On at 61 minutes.
29) Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6/10
Made himself available for passes and tried to create good angles. Wasted a very good chance when he fired into the side netting from a set-piece. On at half-time.
30) Ollie Scarles – 5/10
Confident and adventurous on the few occasions he got possession. On after 85 minutes.
55 – Mohamadou Kante
58 – Airidas Golambeckis
61) Lewis Orford – 6/10
Late, lively run-out in place of Paqueta. Denied a goal by Travers almost immediately after some lovely footwork and a curling right-footed shot. On at 90 minutes
68 – Preston Fearon
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