Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the season with three goals in seven minutes against Burnley.
A cagey encounter saw Ben Mee put the visitors ahead early in the second half when he met Johann Gudmundsson’s hooked delivery at the far post.
But the Blues’ emphatic turnaround began on the hour mark as Michael Keane powered home against his former employers from an Andros Townsend cross.
Within five minutes, Townsend had given Rafael Benitez’s side the lead with a stunning 30-yard strike after initially being set away by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The French midfielder added another assist to his tally barely a minute later with a defence-splitting pass that led to Demarai Gray slotting past Nick Pope.
Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:
Goodison roars at quick-fire delight
The last time Everton stepped out for a night match in front of a capacity home crowd, in early 2020, it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Surrendering a two-goal advantage to Newcastle United in stoppage time left those inside Goodison Park feeling colder than that bleak January evening.
Rafael Benitez was never likely to make the same mistake as his predecessor, especially after the Blues fell behind for a second consecutive home match.An emphatic response saw the hosts racking up three goals in seven minutes, with Andros Townsend’s long-range strike undoubtedly the pick of them.
More threatened to follow as Abdoulaye Doucoure continued to carve out a succession of chances for both teammates and, on one occasion, himself.
Such a rapid turnaround was enough to help spark a Goodison crowd left comatose by a tepid first half and poorly-conceded opener back to life.
The old stadium’s atmosphere often excels when it is feeding off a team that can demonstrate attacking qualifies as well as unrelenting levels of desire.
If Benitez can mastermind more displays like his first two home outings, they will keep Evertonian vocal chords warm through the harsh winter months.
Wing wizards prove value of money
‘Winning the transfer window’ is a phrase that still cuts deep for Everton.
Unprecedented levels of spending which spawned that moniker finally came home to roost this summer in the form of a Financial Fair Play balancing act.
No Premier League manager spent less in the market than Benitez, whose arrivals consisted of four free agents and one player for just £1.5 million.
But the Spaniard’s bargain hunting has already reaped handsome rewards as Townsend and Demarai Gray continue to excel in their new surroundings.
🚀 An absolute worldie from Andros pic.twitter.com/7PdlCsTEw3 #EFC #EVEBUR
— Everton FC news (@ClickEverton) September 13, 2021
The former England international stole top billing with a trademark strike yet his assist for Michael Keane’s equaliser was another feather in the cap.
Gray, too, is recapturing the form which once made him such a prospect at Leicester City with a third goal in as many Premier League appearances.
Some of Everton’s top-flight peers must rue not taking a punt on the wingers when they had the chance to do so at such a relatively inexpensive cost.
Never has the adage that ‘you get what you pay for’ ever been so wrong.
Benitez’s proactive change pays off
For all his experience operating at football’s highest level, Benitez is still far from infallible as proved by a need to switch up Everton’s approach.
Attempts to combat the robust threat which Burnley invariably posed saw Ben Godfrey handed his first outing of the season as part of a three-man defence.
Clearly the tactic did not have the desired effect as Benitez’s side struggled to contain their visitors’ threat while also failing to leave a mark in front of goal.
One change from the Everton manager, however, turned the game in their favour as Andre Gomes replaced Godfrey and helped recalibrate the backline.
Rarely has the midfielder enjoyed such a positive impact in games since suffering an horrific ankle injury against Tottenham just shy of two years ago.
Yet Gomes’ presence in the final third almost immediately helped Everton turn the screw on Burnley and produce a performance reflective of their score line.
Benitez’s in-game management remedied a difficult situation where Sean Dyche’s side had not only taken the lead but were firmly in the ascendancy.