Two goals a piece from Lukaku and Barkley secure a comfortable 3 points for Everton in a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa at Goodison Park.
Everton versus Aston Villa. The most played fixture in English top flight football.
Which Everton would to turn up today? I’d hoped it would be the one that could be bothered. Deulofeu earns a start after providing many assists so far this season, with Cleverley being named on the bench. No Baines though, but with Galloway more than ably deputising (out of position it must be remembered) it’s probably best to give Baines as much time to get fully fit as is possible to afford to him.
On to the game, with Aston Villa utilising what appeared to be a 4-6-0 formation, Everton sort of made vaguely hard work of what should be a simple test, like when you try to start a new loo roll but end up making a big tissuey mess.
However, after a short while, Barkley struck to make it 1-0 Everton, with Kone having an effort saved shortly after.
Nearing the half hour mark, Romelu Lukaku scored his 50th Premier League goal to make it 2-0 for Everton. I love him in every way, I don’t care what his (rapidly diminishing) detractors say. His smile is ace too.
Deulofeu started to look like an unstoppable force down the right with Barkley also looking good as Everton took apart Aston Villa’s “park the bus” game plan. This spell was the Everton that we all love to watch.
Then just before half time, Barkley gets his second of the match to make it 3-0 for Everton. It takes two to tango, but the mighty blues left Aston Villa playing with themselves instead.
In the second half, aside from an early Tim Howard save forced by a rare Funes Mori error, Everton carried on booting Aston Villa’s morale all over the place.
Deulofeu combined with Lukaku to make it 4-0. Everton dominating, Mirallas replaced Deulofeu and the young Spaniard went off to a standing ovation, and rightly so.
The relative good form and momentum we had going into the international break seems to be carrying on. If Everton carry on scoring 4 and 6 goals at home games, I’ll be able to come off the blood pressure pills…….