Gareth Barry scored on his 600th Premier League appearance to help Everton recover from a goal down to earn a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough.
The Englishman's goal cancelled out Maarten Stekelenburg's earlier own goal, which came under pressure from Alvaro Negredo as he let a cross slip through his hands.
Seamus Coleman added a second for his side soon after and Romelu Lukaku got the faintest of touches to a Yannick Bolasie cross to round off the scoring.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Everton and Middlesbrough at Goodison Park. It has been another entertaining day of top-flight action thus far, with Saturday's action concluding on Merseyside with the Toffees aiming to climb back into second place.
It has been a fine start to life at Everton for Ronald Koeman, who has remained unbeaten across his opening five league and cup outings to bring a fresh wave of optimism to the club following a glum campaign under Roberto Martinez last time out. The thrashing of Sunderland five days ago certainly laid down a marker and, after Liverpool beat Chelsea last night, the Toffees are now right in the mix at the top in these early stages.
Everton have defeated West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Sunderland since their opening-day draw with Tottenham Hotspur, and Koeman has a nice run of fixtures ahead to keep this feel-good factor alive heading into the next international break. After this winnable home tie with Boro, the Toffees take on Bournemouth and Crystal Palace where they will be looking to take a combined nine points.
The Merseyside outfit, who dispensed with Martinez towards the end of last season before turning to Southampton's Koeman, have also comfortably beaten Yeovil Town here in the EFL Cup to set up another home tie with Norwich City next week. All Koeman can do is continue to pick up victories, yet the Dutchman was forced to defend his decision to haul off Barkley last weekend and is also understood to have missed out on a couple of his transfer targets at the end of last month.
Taking off a player midway through a game, with no sort of injury problem, is always a big call for a manager to make – just ask Francesco Guidolin who had a little falling out with Neil Taylor in front of the TV cameras last weekend. Koeman was justified in his decision, though, with replacement attacker Gerard Deulofeu performing well when coming on to help his side to a rather comfortable 3-0 victory in the end in the North East.
It was Romelu Lukaku who grabbed all the headlines in the end, as he scored all three goals in a deadly 11-minute spell to finally get back to scoring ways. It had been six months since he last found the net for his club side, a spell spanning 1,139 minutes, but three came along at once at the Stadium of Light and you have to fancy him to now pick up from where he left off last season. It may have been another underwhelming campaign for the Toffees, but Lukaku contributed 18 goals and a further six assists.
A player boasting scoring figures such as those will always be linked with bigger and better things; in this case Chelsea who were reportedly weighing up a big-money move for their former player. A bid did not come in, however, and Lukaku did later confirm that he was happy to remain at Goodison Park for the season ahead where he will be expected to continue finding the net on a regular basis. Everton may have missed out on a big-name signing or two in the summer, but they did at least keep hold of their undisputed star man.
Victory this evening would make it four on the spin in the Premier League for Koeman and Co, then, something which they last achieved between March and April 2014. Furthermore, a win against Boro would also make this their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign, as they have never previously won four of their opening five fixtures to begin a new season. It was a favourable run of fixtures, granted, but you can only win the games in front of you.
DID YOU KNOW? We will turn attention to some confirmed team news in around 20 minutes' time, but should Gareth Barry get the nod in midfield then it will mark another landmark appearance for the Englishman – his 600th in the Premier League. Only Frank Lampard (609) and Ryan Giggs (632) can better that, and Barry this week claimed that he still has a good few years left in his legs so will quite likely overtake both those top-flight legends in front of him.
A chance for Everton to create some history in terms of their best start to a Premier League campaign, then, but Boro will head to Merseyside with some big aspirations of their own. They have gone under the radar just a little in the opening weeks, yet at the start of the day they were sitting comfortably in ninth place after losing just one of their first four games.
That defeat did come last time out, however, as Crystal Palace picked up just a third win of the calendar year to condemn Aitor Karanka's men to their first league defeat in 14 games. Momentum has been a key factor for the Smoggies, as they ended strongly last season – overcoming Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day of the regular league season to earn promotion via the automatic spots.
Ronald Koeman will be delighted with the start he has made to life at Everton. The Toffees have yet to taste defeat under the Dutchman in five league and cup games, winning four of those matches to bring wave a real wave of fresh optimism around Goodison Park – something which was seriously lacking under former boss Roberto Martinez, particularly in his final days.
Boro's opening-day draw with Stoke City was the right result on the balance of things; the Potters improving after the restart and just about doing enough to cancel out Alvaro Negredo's opener through a stunning Xherdan Shaqiri free kick. In hindsight, that was probably a game the Smoggies should have been targeting all three points from, but they more than made up for that when taking maximum points from Sunderland and a point on their travels to West Brom recently.
Had they beaten Palace last weekend, it would have been the best start for any newly-promoted side in the Premier League era, and enough to leave Middlesbrough just outside the European places at this admittedly early stage of the campaign. It was not to be, though, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke putting paid to those hopes, and so Karanka's men must now pick themselves up to avoid suffering back-to-back league defeats.
The big talking point from that game up at the Riverside Stadium seven days ago was Boro's sloppy defending. Last season's promotion-winning run was built on one of the country's tightest defensive units, which only looked to get stronger this summer with some solid back-up options brought into the ranks, but Benteke in particular found life too easy as he nodded home his first Palace goal to earn all three points.
Lukaku is a player identical in stature to Benteke, with an even better record and in even better form after his treble at Sunderland five days ago. Karanka insisted in the build-up to today's game that his players will be back to their best at the back, knowing full well what they are up against, and the Spaniard also acknowledged that a 90-minute performance must be put in across the field if they are to leave Merseyside with any sort of positive result.
All four of Boro's goals so far this season have actually arrived in the first half of matches, so remaining switched on throughout will, as Karanka pointed out, be key. The Smoggies are currently on a six-game unbeaten run away from home in the league, with two of those matches coming in the Premier League – victory at Sunderland and a goalless draw at West Brom – where they have statistically performed better than on their own patch.
Aitor Karanka has performed wonders since taking over at Middlesbrough, improving the club's position in each of his three seasons at the club and earning automatic promotion last term after narrowly missing out 12 months beforehand at Wembley. Boro have lost just one of their last 14 league games, but that did come seven days ago when falling 2-1 to Crystal Palace.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Everton have lost one of their last 11 meetings with Middlesbrough in league competition, winning six and drawing four in that run. Boro have only actually managed to score five goals in that time, while also losing 2-0 on the last occasion the two teams met in last season's League Cup quarter-final. Gerard Deulofeu was a key figure in that match, but will he get another chance to impress today?
Before turning attention to some team news from Goodison Park, let us first check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps with a little under 25 minutes until kickoff.
Ronald Koeman: "If you play a match, you analyse it, and of course there was a reason to change Ross at half time - because he did not play well. He lost many balls and a player of that quality can't lose those kind of balls. We always analyse the game, and then you have individual talks, and of course I had an individual talk with Ross. He needs to improve, but okay - we will see at the weekend."
Aitor Karanka: "As a player, I preferred to play against the best players in the world because if you are playing against them, it is because you belong at that level. For that reason, I am really pleased to be here. I know it's not the same to prepare for the game against Everton or against Tottenham the following week when we were preparing last season for Championship teams. But it's a good challenge and if you want to improve and you want to be successful, you have to do it."
Karanka "really pleased" to be able to test himself against some of the country's best players this evening, then, which he admits is a challenge for him and his group. This is Boro's biggest test yet since earning a return to the English top flight following a seven-season absence, while for Everton this is another game which they will see as a chance to put three more points on the board to continue this impressive early start.
TEAM NEWS!
EVERTON XI: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Jagielka, Baines, Williams, Gueye, Barkley, Barry, Mirallas, Bolasie, Lukaku
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes, Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, De Roon, Forshaw, Nsue, Ramirez, Downing, Negredo
Middlesbrough boss Karanka has made three changes to his team from last time out, with Christian Stuani missing out through injury and both Adam Clayton and Viktor Fischer dropping down to the bench. Emilio Nsue, Marten De Roon and Gaston Ramirez are the men to come into the first-team fold, with Alvaro Negredo again tasked with leading the line for the Smoggies.
As far as the hosts are concerned, it is as you were from last time out - an unchanged XI selected by manager Koeman. That means Barry does indeed reach the milestone of 600 Premier League appearances, putting him alongside Lampard and Giggs in that particular category. The Englishman will partner Idrissa Gueye in the engine room - a player who has made an immediate impact in his new colours with some dominant early displays.
As expected, Lukaku will lead the way after his treble at Sunderland last week. What was less known heading into the game, however, was just what type of role Barkley would play. Well he has been given a reprieve of sorts by Koeman, having been named in the starting lineup in a number 10 position just off Lukaku. Yannick Bolasie and Kevin Mirallas start either side in a 4-2-3-1 layout for the hosts.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Valencia, Funes Mori, Holgate
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Guzan, Espinosa, Clayton, Fischer, Chambers, Nugent, Traore
Gerard Deulofeu, so key in the last meeting between these two sides, will no doubt feel disappointed to be dropped to the bench after his impressive substitute display against Sunderland. Enner Valencia is made to wait for his Everton debut after working his way into contention this week, while Aaron Lennon provides another out-and-out attacking option should Koeman's side be chasing down a goal at any stage.
The visitors are without Jordan Rhodes in their matchday squad this evening due to injury, while Christian Stuani also misses out on the 18-man party due to an injury of his own. James Husband, Fabio Da Silva and Grant Leadbitter are all on the sidelines, meanwhile, so this is far from a full-strength Boro squad on display at Goodison Park.
Well after the 3pm kickoffs, Everton have dropped one place to third in the Premier League table. They are one of four sides on 10 points, albeit having played one game less than their opponents. A point will be enough lift them up to second place above Arsenal, with Manchester City out of reach at the summit - currently five points clear of the chasing pack after another superb display at home to Bournemouth.
Ross Barkley is given a chance to show what he is made of this evening, having been named in an unchanged Everton starting lineup. Three changes for Middlesbrough, meanwhile, with Emilio Nsue, Marten De Roon and Gaston Ramirez the men to come in; Christian Stuani missing out on the squad entirely due to a recent injury he picked up.
KICKOFF! Middlesbrough get us under way at Goodison Park, quickly getting forward down the right through Barragan who sends in a slightly overhit cross. Everton not yet being given a chance to settle in the opening 60 seconds.
A bright start made by Boro in the opening minute or so, but Everton now controlling the tempo of the game and looking to patiently move the ball forward. Bolasie is given a talking to by the referee for shoving Gibson off the field of play.
Both sides have shown some attacking intent in these opening stages of the match, but we have seen just the one shot so far - former Man City forward Negredo hitting the ball high into the stands from more than 30 yards out.
Friend is fouled by Coleman high up the pitch, giving Boro a chance to send in a cross that went all the way through without a touch. It was a superb delivery, but both Downing and Ayala just could not get the touch required.
Boro have started this match in an assured manner - more so than their opponents, in truth. Still no attempts on target so far from the Smoggies, but they have looked the more likely to make something happen in the attacking third.
Barkley being made to drift towards the left-hand flank, but he is unable to feed through Mirallas and Everton have to settle for just a throw-in. Big evening ahead for the Englishman, who many expected to make way for Deulofeu.
Bolasie yet to really stretch his legs, but he gives Boro a little warning by earning his side a corner. The set piece comes into the box for Jagielka to flick on, although the contact was all wrong and it was high over the bar.
Karanka will provably be the happier of the two managers on the whole, though that said Everton have looked a little better over the past few minutes. Similar to the Sunderland game last week in many ways, when the Toffees vastly improved in the second half to comfortably win the game.
SAVE! Gaston Ramirez is picked out in the box, but he rather delays his shot which allows Stekelenburg to produce a straightforward enough stop down the middle. Everton still yet to click into gear, with Boro enjoying the better of things.
SAVE! Barkley wins his 50-50 battle and sprays a fine pass out to Mirallas, but the Belgian failed to pick out Lukaku with his reverse ball into the box. Boro fail to clear their lines and Barkley unleashes a shot from 20 yards out which Valdes helps over the bar.
SAVE! A second shot on goal in quick succession for the home side, as Mirallas this time sends a shot down the middle for Valdes to this time collect. Much better from the Toffees, who are more direct all of a sudden.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (ALVARO NEGREDO)
Well after finally growing into the game, Everton concede the sloppiest of goals which has left home supporters furious. It was a controversial opener as a cross from the left was not dealt with by Stekelenburg, who saw Negredo race in ahead of him to nod the ball home. Two hands on the ball, claim those behind the goal, but replays show the referee got the call correct.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (GARETH BARRY)
Three minutes after falling a goal behind, Everton level things up in an explosive first half. It was Barry, on his 600th Premier League appearance, who found a way through for his side, as he blasted home at the back post when Valdes failed to collect a corner. Williams's studs were high and put the keeper off, so a second controversial call there.
Time for some housekeeping: I'm putting that Boro goal down as a Stekelenburg own goal. Negredo headed the hands of the keeper, who then appeared to just throw the ball into his own net through the momentum. No denying that Barry scored the second, but Williams was lucky not to concede a foul in the build-up.
SHOT! Another promising moment for Everton, who now have momentum on their side. Barkley cuts inside and bends a shot narrowly over the bar, but Lukaku was furious at his teammate as he was free on the edge of the box.
CLOSE! A cross from the left is met superbly by Bolasie, who looped the ball on to the roof of the net with his head. A very entertaining 15-minute spell in this match, which has seen Boro relinquish their grip and Everton take control.
Lukaku very nearly getting on the end of a through-ball, which just had a little too much on it and Valdes was able to collect. The match has now settled back down, but it is still the hosts who are enjoying the better openings.
Barkley got the better of Ayala which created space for a shot inside the box, but he could not get the ball out form under his feet and both Ayala and Friend lunged in to block the effort between them. Good play from the midfielder.
Boro look to make inroads down the left through Downing, but the hosts quickly win back the ball. This first half can be divided into thirds - an explosive middle section but a largely underwhelming spell either side at Goodison Park.
That Boro goal certainly sparked Everton into life, with their supporters also responding to turn the ground into a cauldron of noise, but the atmosphere has dropped a few notches as we approach the interval on Merseyside.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (SEAMUS COLEMAN)
A fine individual goal from Coleman gives Everton the lead for the first time today. The Irishman cut inside from the right and worked his way into a central position, firing the ball back across goal and out of the reach of Valdes in what was a strike teammate Lukaku would have been proud of.
CLOSE! Downing's shot deflects off Jagielka's shoulder and narrowly wide of the Everton target. Good response from Boro, who faded badly after the Toffees' opener and have not looked like scoring since. Half time now just moments away.
GOAL! EVERTON 3-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (YANNICK BOLASIE)
Everton have a third right on the brink of half time. There is confusion about this goal, too, as Bolasie's cross appeared to go right the way through and into the far corner, but Lukaku runs away with his arms in the air claiming he got a touch. Replays suggest otherwise, so I'll give that to Bolasie - his first for the club.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 3-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
An entertaining first half of action comes to a close at Goodison Park, with Everton 3-1 up at the midway point. It was an opening 45 minutes that had plenty of talking points, but as things stand the Toffees will move back into second place in the table at the close of play.
An action-packed first half got off to a slow start, with the first shot on target not arriving until 17 minutes in when Gaston Ramirez - in for the injured Christian Stuani - tested Marten Stekelenburg with a rather tame attempt. It was Boro who were looking the more composed, but they soon grew into the match as both Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas saw shots down the middle kept out by Victor Valdes.
Despite Everton finally wrestling back control of the game, it was their opponents who edged in front 21 minutes in when, in controversial circumstances, a cross from the left looked to be headed home by Alvaro Negredo from five yards out. Home fans were unhappy that the goal stood, claiming that Negredo challenged the Dutchman when he had two hands on the ball, although replays showed that the contact was fair and it was actually the goalkeeper who made the final contact on the ball before it crossed the line for an unfortunate own goal.
That would not be the last of the talking points, either, as just three minutes later the Toffees were level when Gareth Barry thumped home at the back post on his landmark appearance to spark Goodison Park back into life. Again, the referee was questioned due to a high foot from Ashley Williams in the build-up, which prevented Valdes from collecting the ball before Barry could pick out the net.
Boro faded badly as the half wore on, struggling to put together any real attacking moves and it was instead the unbeaten Toffees who were on top as both Barkley and Yannick Bolasie came close to finding a third goal of the evening. Everton's second of the evening would arrive soon after thanks to a fine Seamus Coleman strike, coming after the Irishman weaved his way into the box and picked the only spot that Valdes could not reach at full stretch.
There was still time for Bolasie to join the first-half scoresheet, with his cross going all the way through and finding the net, although this was the third goal to have a question mark over it as Lukaku claimed that he made minimal contact to help it past Valdes. Either way, it is the hosts who lead by a two-goal margin at the break.
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Valencia, Funes Mori, Holgate
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Guzan, Espinosa, Clayton, Fischer, Chambers, Nugent, Traore
RESTART! Middlesbrough, still without a second-half goal this season, get us back under way at Goodison Park. Everton are now just 45 minutes away from their best-ever start to a Premier League season.
Lukaku has been credited for that third goal, incidentally, so it is now three goals in a week for him. Everton have started the second half the better, without troubling Valdes, but Boro are now starting to come out of their shell a little.
Everton do not need to try anything fancy in this second period, with that third goal on the brink of half time giving them a healthy lead. A Boro goal changes everything, though, so options form the bench may still play a big part in this one.
This game now just ticking along without too much goalmouth action, which will suit Koeman just fine. We are now reaching that stage in the match where both managers will surely be thinking about a change or two, particularly Karanka who is chasing two goals.
Grass aplenty for Barkley to charge into as gaps begin to open up at the back. He fails to slide in a teammate on this occasion but he, and Deulofeu should he come on, will have plenty more chances to capitalise at this rate.
SAVE! Barkley has had an enjoyable afternoon, justifying Koeman's decision to stick by the midfielder. His latest shot is hit across goal but Valdes is down well to keep it out. Karanka still yet to make a change, despite time fast ticking down.
Boro probing away patiently enough in search of a lifeline. Until they get it this will be a comfortable evening for Everton, as they are allowed to knock the ball around in ease in front of their buoyant fans.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Karanka makes his expected change as he turns to David Nugent on the hour. Nsue has done little this evening and was always the prime candidate to make way. This half has yet to truly get going, particularly compared to the opening 45 minutes.
Nugent's fresh legs looked to have helped Boro, but five blue shirts are quickly on him and any chance of a shot soon faded away. Koeman may be thinking of making his first change around about now, but there is no real rush to make any action.
Almost a chance for both Lukaku and Barkley in quick succession, but the ball just does not fall for either of them to strike and Boro are able to clear. Lukaku has picked up a knock and will now likely be taken off in the next few moments.
EVERTON SUB! Lukaku does indeed make way, with Enner Valencia the man to come on for his first Everton appearance. Not too sure how serious the injury picked up by the Belgian was, but certainly no need to risk him.
Boro so incredibly sloppy in possession throughout this second half, in what is turning into a simple evening for the Toffees. That leveller, so soon after falling behind, proved to be the key result - that it was Barry who scored it adds more significance.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Viktor Fischer, a man who many were excited to see join the club in the summer, comes on for Boro. Gaston Ramirez is the man to make way, with 20 minutes of this game plus added time to come.
EVERTON SUB! Boro not being given a chance to find any sort of foothold in the game due to the constant disruption. Mirallas is the latest player to be withdrawn, with Deulofeu on for the remainder. Can he muster any magic?
Boro with a rare chance to test the Everton backline, but a cross into the box is far too easy for Stekelenburg to handle. Still seen just the one shot - both on target and off - so far in this second half, with just 16 minutes left to go.
The Smoggies have been hugely disappointing ever since opening the scoring this evening, although they have enjoyed their best spell since that 21st-minute header over the past few moments. Still nothing for Everton's Dutch keeper to keep out, though.
Everton just dropping off a little too much over the past five minutes, allowing Fischer to drive forward and get a shot away which was blocked inside the box. Boro about to make another change, with this match still not quite over just yet.
Deulofeu with a really good chance to pick out a teammate, with plenty of gaps now at the back, but his cross was far too close to Valdes, who easily collected. Now into the final 10 minutes and still no sign of a goal - or indeed a shot!
Middlesbrough SUB! Adam Clayton is introduced in place of Adam Forshaw at Goodison Park. Koeman still has one change left to make, which he will no doubt use in the remaining time to east up some more valuable seconds.
Everton just allowing this game to tick over now, knowing that they pulled off the hard work late in that first half. Lukaku's goal - or was it Bolasie's?! - deep into the first half really did kill Boro off, with this second period petering out badly.
Everton now just four minutes away from their best start to a season in nearly four decades. Only two Boro goals will deny them from making what is close to a perfect start to life under Koeman, who next takes his side to Bournemouth in what is a nice run of games.
Can't see Karanka being too pleased with his side's performance today. Even with Everton inviting them on they are unable to test their opponents. No sign of throwing the kitchen sink on it, as the visitors let this one get away from them.
EVERTON SUB! Off goes Gareth Barry on his landmark 600th appearance. He will leave Goodison Park with the Man of the Match award - justifiably so with his goal proving pivotal in the way this match has panned out.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 3-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
The full-time whistle sounds at Goodison Park, meaning another three-point haul for Everton - their fourth in a row. This is now the Toffees' best start to a season in 38 years, coming thanks to goals from Gareth Barry, Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku to cancel out Maarten Stekelenburg's own goal a quarter of the way through.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events on Merseyside, but be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report before heading off. There will also be plenty of reaction from this and all the other day's games, so stick around that. Thanks for joining!
