Romelu Lukaku helped himself to four goals as Everton extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games with a thrilling victory over battling Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Everton finished the game by winning 6-3.
Lukaku curled home an exquisite opener after just 30 seconds to equal the record for the fastest league goal of the season set by Chelsea’s Pedro against Manchester United.
What a crazy game. @RomeluLukaku9 gets four as the Blues hit @afcbournemouth for six at Goodison.
Up the Toffees! #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/DmoJVaEAts
— Everton (@Everton) February 4, 2017
Lukaku’s trickery set up James McCarthy for Everton’s second before the Belgium striker took his tally to 15 goals for the season when Simon Francis’ suicidal back pass gifted him the opportunity to apply a lofted finish over Artur Boruc.
Joshua King’s second-half brace gave Bournemouth hope, but Lukaku added two more inside the final 10 minutes to put the game to bed, although there was still time for Harry Arter to add a third for the visitors and Ross Barkley to slot in Everton’s sixth.
The result was a fitting way for Everton manager Ronald Koeman to celebrate his 100th Premier League game, and takes the seventh-placed Toffees to within two points of Manchester United.
For slumping Bournemouth, meanwhile, defeat takes them to within six points of the relegation zone. Eddie Howe’s men – winless in 2017 – are now on a run of one victory in eight and have conceded 34 goals in their last 13 games – shipping at least three goals in nine of those.
