Joshua King was the difference maker when Watford visited Goodison Park to play against Everton on Saturday, October 23, 2021.
The 29-year-old Watford striker faced Everton for the first time since he was forced out of the Merseyside club on July 9, 2021.
Joshua King left Bournemouth for Everton for an unknown transfer fee and did not spend more than five months at the club before he was kicked out. He managed to make just 11 appearances in all competitions without scoring a goal for the Merseyside club.
Hence, King’s return to Goodison Park was an opportunity to prove a point even though he visited the stadium with a weaker Watford team that suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool a weekend before the game against Everton.
Joshua King showed Everton how improved he has become by scoring in the 13th minute, he had his second in the 80th and then his third came in the 86th to complete his hat-trick in Watford’s 5-2 away win over Everton.
After the victory over his former team, King revealed that he made up his mind to give his very best against Everton but did not expect to get a hat-trick against them.
He also revealed that his three goals against Everton were nothing personal even though he stressed that he was not given a chance to prove himself when he was at the club.
“I didn’t get given a chance [at Everton], but I did wake up today and had a feeling. I was here but I didn’t feel like I got given a chance”, the Norwegian striker told Sky Sports.
“That’s football – but I feel like every time someone doubts you or doesn’t believe in you, you want to prove a point. I felt I had a point to prove. I know it’s not personal, but I woke up and said to myself I have to be on my A-game today. I didn’t expect a hat-trick, but I’ll take it!”
The contract between Joshua King and Watford will expire on June 30, 2023. His current transfer market value is €8 million.
So far this season, the Norwegian striker has managed to score 3 goals and provided 2 assists in 8 games in all competitions.
Coach Claudio Ranieri of Watford wondered why Everton did not give Joshua King a chance
After Joshua King’s man-of-the-match performance against Everton on Saturday, his coach at Watford, Claudio Ranieri wondered why Everton did not give him a chance when he was at the Merseyside club.
Ranieri who became the coach of Watford over a week ago and suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in his first match in charge of the club, noted that King is a great striker.
The coach said: “I don’t know why [he wasn’t given starts at Everton]. For me and my team, he is a great, great striker. Not only because he scored a hat-trick today, but the way he held the ball and kept the ball, linking with the midfielders, was amazing. An amazing match.”
While on the general performance of his team against Everton, Ranieri added: “It was a crazy game because we conceded lots of chances, but also Everton conceded great chances to us. I am very satisfied because after the Liverpool defeat we wanted to react, and today we reacted very well.
“I ask my players never to give up, to continue to play our football. We have to defend better than today…
“Last Saturday we played against one of the best teams in the world, we conceded five goals, but also Atletico Madrid, in my point of view, one of the best defensive teams, conceded three goals against them.
“But today we changed the mood, the system, and the players, they understood my idea, and we scored five goals. That doesn’t mean every match we win, but it’s important to fight in this way.”
The 5-2 win over Everton has placed Watford on the 14th spot on the league table with 10 points in 9 games. While Everton are now sitting on the 8th spot with 14 points in 9 games.
