Jamie Carragher heaped praise on Demarai Gray after Everton’s 1-0 win against West Ham United- giving the winger his player of the match award.
The Toffees picked up their first win of the season at Goodison Park on Sunday with Neal Maupay’s 53rd-minute snapshot enough to seal an all-important victory. A resolute Blues were able to withstand any West Ham pressure and rode their luck as Said Benrahma and Maxwel Cornet both came close to equalising.
New boy Maupay will grab the headlines for scoring the winner and redeeming his Merseyside derby miss - much to the delight of Frank Lampard - while Alex Iwobi once again shone in central midfield. But it was Gray who caught the attention of Carragher when he skipped effortlessly past Vladimir Coufal just past the hour mark.
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“He’s [Gray] been dangerous all day,” Carragher said while co-commentating on Sky Sports . “He did that to Coufal very early in the game as well; there’s no doubt he’s got the pace and the trickery to go past him.
“He puts it into a brilliant area as well. You just want someone to come in at that back post. He’s been by far, certainly the best attacking player on the pitch.”
One of four or five in blue could have been named player of the match this afternoon with defensive pair James Tarkowski and Conor Coady looking like they’ve played together for seven years rather than seven games. Amadou Onana and Nathan Patterson were also standout performers.
But it was Gray who once again took the plaudits from Carragher, with the pundit naming the former Leicester City winger his player of the match.
“There could’ve been three or four for Everton,” Carragher added when giving Gray the award. “The two centre-backs [Tarkowski and Coady], Iwobi in midfield as well. But I’m going to give it to Demarai Gray.
“It hasn’t been easy for any attacking players on the pitch as it’s been that sort of game. But he’s the one who has really stood out.”
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