Gordon: Released by Liverpool, became Everton’s saviour and now wanted by Spurs

‘There’s nothing positive about tonight other than Anthony Gordon’.

That was the verdict of Everton boss Frank Lampard after his side were thrashed 5-0 by Tottenham back in March.

And it seems Spurs agreed having made Gordon a key transfer target this summer despite already poaching Richarlison from the Toffees.

talkSPORT understands Everton will resist any approach from Tottenham and Simon Jordan believes the club faced a backlash had they sold.

He said: “If Anthony Gordon was to go it’s because Everton want to sell him not because someone is forcing the situation saying I want to leave.

“Gordon being sold by Everton would be everything that is wrong because Gordon wouldn’t be like Richarlison pushing for a move away.”

He added: “It would be Everton saying you have to go and that would be the wrong message to fans because what’s the point in an academy then.”

The man himself told the Telegraph in March: “It has been a big year for me.

“But it is hard for me to really be happy and take things as a positive because I am going home feeling devastated for days after a defeat.

“Family members are trying to cheer me up saying, ‘you played well’, but they do not understand that I am part of the team and losing.

“I am not a loser. I am a winner. So it is hard for me to take it as a positive.”

It is that mentality that has led Gordon to make a habit of producing against the Premier League’s big six since he cemented his spot in Everton’s first team late last year.

The 21-year-old, who was Everton’s only shining light against Spurs, rescued a point away at Chelsea with an assist for Jarrad Branthwaite’s equaliser.

Then arguably his greatest contribution came in the heat of the club’s relegation fight when he notched the winner against Manchester United.

And Gordon is now realising his potential having been released by Liverpool when he was just 11 years old.

But Everton soon came calling and in hindsight he doesn’t regret it, telling the club’s website: “It was another chance for me to grow. But that was hard.

“It affected me mentally and dented my confidence. I had to pick myself up and go again.

“When I got to Everton, I never looked back.”

Ironically, Liverpool then proved to be the club Gordon made his first Premier League start against back in June 2020.

Although competing in the Merseyside derby was a childhood dream, Gordon had mixed emotions about how he played in the 0-0 draw.

He told Sky Sports: “It did mean a lot, but I was disappointed because I didn’t really touch the ball.

“I had dreams of scoring and doing a lot in the game, so hopefully I’ll be able to put that right next time and make a real impact on the game.”

Unfortunately for Gordon, that game in question was the most recent Merseyside derby that Liverpool won 4-1 in December.

He was benched by then-boss Rafael Benitez and Everton were already losing by the time he was introduced in the second-half.

Current Everton chief Lampard unleashed Gordon from the start against Liverpool in April’s reverse fixture with the youngster proving the club’s brightest spark in the 2-0 loss.

After narrowly avoiding relegation, Lampard will be desperate to retain his top starlet if the Blues are to avoid a similar dogfight again next term.

But unless he can turn around fortunes at Goodison Park soon, Tottenham won’t be the last club to notice all the positives around Anthony Gordon…