A rousing second-half display helped Everton comfortably defeat Chelsea.

Neither side was able to make a breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes but the Blues drew first blood just four minutes after the interval courtesy of Richarlison.

The Brazilian pounced to head home the opener after Kepa Arrizabalaga had parried Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s initial attempt from a Gylfi Sigurdsson corner.

Sigurdsson added his own name to the score sheet later on in the half by tapping home a rebound after Chelsea stopper Arrizabalaga saved his initial penalty kick.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Silva’s team talk does the trick

 

Whatever Marco Silva said in the Everton dressing room at half-time will be the subject of intense debate, especially given the manner of their follow-up display.

An opening 45 minutes where his players had lacked any drive threatened to be punished by a Chelsea side that appeared to be firmly in the ascendancy.

But the interval coincided with a more disciplined showing from the Blues which was rewarded barely five minutes after the restart with Richarlison’s opener.

Everton’s first win over the Premier League’s top six since Manchester City were comprehensively demolished in January 2017 was long overdue.

Thanks to Silva’s half-time rocket, that particular hoodoo has been laid to rest.

Mina sings the Blues again

 

Facing Chelsea clearly stirs something inside Yerry Mina.

The Colombia international enjoyed a solid full debut in November’s goalless draw at Stamford Bridge and did the same in the corresponding fixture.

Somewhere along the line, however, Mina’s stock has fallen. Silva this week argued that he lacks the consistency to become a regular starter at Everton.

Kurt Zouma’s ineligibility to face his current employers allowed the former Barcelona man a long-awaited lifeline, and he did not disappoint.

Little troubled Mina and defensive partner Michael Keane, with the pair regularly averting the danger especially in the face of Chelsea’s early onslaught.

Many unhappy returns for Ross

 

Ross Barkley knew exactly what to expect upon his return to Goodison Park. Evertonians have long memories, particularly with those who scorned them.

Even before kick-off, the Wavertree-born midfielder was on the receiving end of hometown hostility as every missed shot in the warm-up was cheered jubilantly.

Things did not get much better from thereon; vociferous boos greeted Barkley every touch of the ball, not least a wayward attempted cross in the first half.

By the time Maurizio Sarri withdrew him on 65 minutes, the 25-year-old’s humiliation was complete in a game where he had failed to have a key influence.

That ‘fresh start’ he cited behind the decision to walk away from Goodison, little over 14 months ago, doesn’t look that promising after all.

DCL deserves to lead the line

 

An afternoon which began with a terrace homage to Everton’s legendary marksmen of the past invariably drew comparisons with the current crop.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin may not go down in the same vein as Bob Latchford, Graeme Sharp and Duncan Ferguson, but it will not be for a lack of trying.

He worked tirelessly throughout and was the only player from the home side that can justifiably claim to have given their all over the course of 95 minutes.

By stoppage time, Calvert-Lewin was a spent force, physically exhausted by his toil. Yet he was still able to soldier on in tandem with substitute Tom Davies.

There may not be a place in the Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame up ahead but his standing as Everton’s leading light for the foreseeable future is indisputable.