Wayne Rooney proved the hero for Everton as his first-half header sealed a narrow 1-0 win over Stoke City.
Wayne
Rooney enjoyed a dream return to Premier League action for Everton with
the only goal in a 1-0 win over Stoke City at Goodison Park on
Saturday.
Quiet for much of the opening 45
minutes, the homegrown hero exploded into life with a well-taken winner
in first-half stoppage time.
Dominic
Calvert-Lewin assisted Rooney’s opener and twice went close after the
restart but the solitary goal proved enough for Everton to kick-off
their campaign with a win for the first time in five attempts.
Everton
had earlier struggled for fluidity as Ronald Koeman fielded five new
signings from the outset, with Jordan Pickford comfortable in claiming a
clean sheet.
Stoke looked bright in patches
but, with only five teams scoring fewer goals last season, their
troubles in attack still appear to need solving.
Both
teams began with three at the back and it was the away side who looked
more incisive early, targeting the space in behind Everton’s wing-backs.
Mame
Biram Diouf forced Pickford to push a wayward cross around his near
post while the hosts were restricted to shooting from range throughout
the opening 25 minutes, midfielder Idrissa Gueye twice trying his luck
to little effect.
Stoke, without an opening day
win since 2009, looked the likelier of the two to score before the end
of a cagey first-half until Rooney rose high and headed Calvert-Lewin’s
delivery back across Jack Butland to the delight of the home fans.
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