Frank Lampard has praised the impact of both Donny van de Beek and Anthony Gordon after his side beat Leeds United 3-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Blues secured a crucial three points thanks to goals in the first half from Seamus Coleman and Michael Keane, before Gordon got a touch on Richarlison's goal-bound effort to add a third late on.
Van de Beek was making his full debut for Everton after coming off the bench to impress against Newcastle in midweek, lining up alongside Allan in central midfield.
And Lampard was not surprised by the performance from the Manchester United loanee, explaining exactly why he was so keen to bring him to Everton after his appointment as manager.
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He told his post-match press conference: "I expected that, I know Donny as a player from the outside.
"I brought him here because I know his talents. He can play, his intelligence and his work ethic - he's a technical player.
"He matched the other players, he gave us a sense of calm, he linked the play and gave us a sense of confidence on the ball.
"That's exactly what I brought him here to do.
"I think he can do different roles, and I think that's the beauty and why I moved so quickly to get him when I came in.
"I'm a big admirer of his as a player. He played in a double six today, and I know he's got the talent to link and get us through the lines of the pitch with his passing.
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"He's got the work ethic needed in that role, I know he can do higher, he's a goal threat too.
"That was one of the big pulls in getting him in, knowing that he can bring different elements of his game to help us in different ways.
"In that disciplined role today he did it really well."
Gordon, meanwhile, has impressed for a number of months in what has become a real coming-of-age season.
Lampard was again not surprised to see such a strong performance from the winger, who received a well-deserved standing ovation when he was substituted in the second half.
And the manager explained that the 20-year-old stood out to him even when he was analysing the Everton squad before he became manager.
"Has he surprised me? No, because I've watched a lot of him and I analysed a lot of the games before I came in," Lampard added.
"Anthony was a standout for me. I really liked some of the attributes he was showing before I came.
"But you never know until you get here, and from the first day in training he was engaging - he wants to listen and wants to learn.
"There's a great talent and a work ethic. When you're an Everton lad as he is and the fans see that in him.
"He's got talent as well and I don't want to underscore that, he can go a long way in the game.
"I can see how much he wants it, and it's my job and the staff's job to get that out of him."
