Full Time: Everton 1-0 Stoke City
Ronald Koeman’s Everton were off to a flying start in the Premier League campaign as they managed to steal all three points from their first game of the season, against Stoke City at the Goodison Park. Both teams were set up not to concede but a thumping header from Wayne Rooney on his Everton debut back at the Merseyside was enough for the Blues to register a victory on the night.
Stoke City piled the pressure late in the game but it was not enough for them to take anything from their trip to Liverpool. Here are the player ratings for Everton in this satisfactory victory:
Everton Player Ratings
Jordan Pickford (6)
The English shot stopper made a decent start to his career at Everton as he made a couple of important saves, including one late in the game against Shaqiri, to give his side all three points.
Phil Jagielka (6)
Was uncomfortable in the first half as a part of the back three but was his usual self in the second half where Everton moved to a 4-back formation as he helped them see out the game under increasing pressure from Stoke.
Ashley Williams (5)
Did not do too much wrong in a defensive sense but was just not what Everton needed on the day as he had to be subbed off at half-time for tactical reasons.
Michael Keane (7)
Never looked like he was making his debut for Everton as he was solid at the back and also helped his side push ahead with every chance.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (8)
Dominant in the air in the second half and exciting on the flank in the first, Lewin produced the cross for Rooney’s goal and made some last ditch clearances that helped Everton to this victory.
Idrissa Gueye (6)
With relentless energy in the midfield, Gueye ran the show for Everton but failed to open Stoke up as he was happy to sit back for most of the game.
Morgan Schneiderlin (6)
Looked a bit rusty all game as he failed to create chances from a deeper role. But he stuck to his task well to keep Stoke City from knitting attacks in the midfield.
Leighton Baines (6)
Took time to adjust to the pace of the game and had a far better time after the restart as he got involved more and more on the wing late in the tie.
Davy Klaassen (7)
Had an exciting start to the game but often drifted out. However, he was too hot to handle for Stoke most of the times he got on the ball.
Sandro Ramirez (6)
Did extremely well every time he got the ball at his feet but will take loads of time to adjust to the physical approach of the game. Things seemed to too physical for his liking at times.
Wayne Rooney (8)
Though not the exciting striker that he was when he left Everton, Rooney, who took time to get into the game, had a spell where he ran the show for his side and picked up a goal with a thumping header to score the winner on his debut back at the Goodison Park.
Subs:
Cuco Martina (7)
Helped Everton shift formations and acted as a much more creative outlet on the wing after he came on for Williams at half time.
Tom Davies (7)
Made an immediate impact on the game as he added some much-needed energy in the middle of the pitch, stopping Stoke from going on to the front foot.
Kevin Mirallas (6)
Came in with 15 minutes to spare and created just one chance of note until the final whistle.