SIRO stadiums and gets great welcome before victory

came soon after the interval when he headed straight at the Burnley keeper Nick Pope, who had made a fine close-range save earlier, from Mason Holgate.

Yet if that spoke of Burnley’s defensive resilience and a lack of creativity – the tricky Bernard apart – then Calvert-lewin’s third chance at least showed that Ancelotti’s half-time teamtalk had filtered through.

“We were a little slow from the back in the first half,” explained the Italian later. “We were in positions to counterattack, but made the wrong choice, so we had to be more efficient in front.”

With his fourth attempt, Calvert-lewin was certainly that. He is such an impressive forward, but one who is not yet clinical enough.

His winner though, showed courage, athleticism and instinct.

“He is a fantastic striker. But where he can and has to improve is the movement without the ball. He has to be more focused on the goal…stay in the box,” added Ancelotti. The 22-year-old did just that. When Sigurdsson did brilliantly to win back possession and sent Djibril Sidibe (right) swiftly away down the right, Calvert-lewin sniffed danger, darted between two centre-halves, and dived headlong to divert into the far corner. It was a stunning header, a beautiful goal that showed a glimpse of what Ancelotti is all about – quick thinking and movement, tactical prowess, and incisiveness.

Burnley’s one decent chance, from a mere

30 per cent possession, came when

Chris Wood headed Phil

Bardsley’s freekick over.

But really, they knew this was about a certain Italian manager, and a new Everton era.. which may have had a damp start, but still ended with some Christmas fireworks and a promise of better things to come in the New Year.