Everton kicked off the 2017-18 season of the Premier League in a pretty decent manner, thanks to Wayne Rooney’s clinical header past Stoke City’s Jack Butland which helped the Toffees in bagging all three points.
Here is how we have rated Ronald Koeman’s man on their victory over the Potters:
Jordan Pickford 8/10
Newcomer Pickford made a scintillating debut for his new employers against the Potters as he constantly kept making impeccable saves, including the breathtaking flier to deny Xherdan Shaqiri in the dying minutes of the game.
Phil Jagielka 6.5/10
The veteran defender didn’t look convincing in the first half, but eventually, he did garner a commendable footing in the second half.
Ashley Willams 6/10
He might have been resilient and strong, but something which he has been lacking for a long time now is his ability to build the game from the back and was eventually taken off during the interval.
Michael Keane 7/10
The former Burnley defender was one of the high profile names to have been introduced at the Goodison Park, and he has already started to hit the right chords. Keane looked commanding and confident and offered a great deal of resilience.
Idrissa Gueye 6/10
Gueye toiled relentlessly but failed to dominate the midfield the way he generally does.
Morgan Schneiderlin 5/10
Schneiderlin was one of the players who really struggled to get into the scheme of things and he certainly will have to do a lot better in the games to come.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 8/10
He offered the physical strength which the Blues so desperately needed today. Calvert-Lewin looked keen to keep the game ticking in favour of his employers with his movements and passes and generated a wonderful cross for Rooney to bury.
Sandro Ramirez 6/10
The former Malaga man found it hard to meet the physicality and animosity which the visitors offered and looked dead tired, owing to which he was substituted.
Davy Klaassen 5.5/10
Klaassen’s movements were sluggish and his attacking endeavours stagnated massively and eventually taken off.
Leighton Baines 6/10
The Englishman was erratic with his passes and took a great deal of time to settle into the game.
Wayne Rooney 8.5/10
Rooney bagged the only goal of the game and the way he gave a sharp attacking tooth to Koeman’s side was simply exemplary. His passes were pinpoint more often than not and will play a major role this season for Everton.
Substitutions:
Cuco Martina 7/10
Replaced Williams for the second half and constantly kept marauding forward down the right.
Tom Davies 7/10
He was brought on for Klaassen and pulled the strings together with his passes and pressed really hard.
Kevin Mirallas 6/10
Miralles was introduced with 15 minutes left to play and he did show some spark after coming on.