BIG SAM OFF TO A DREAM START

Sam Allardyce hopes it is “onwards and upwards” in his dream job after winning his first game in charge of Everton.

The 63-year-old marked his return to the dugout after a six-month break with a 2- 0 win over Huddersf ield at Goodison thanks to goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The former England boss said: “Getting a win in your first game after a fantastic victory on Wednesday night – back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, let’s hope it’s onwards and upwards boys. I turned many a job down before this one. I felt this one was right for me. It’s a dream job for me and I’ll give it 100 per cent.”

Calvert-Lewin had a hand in both goals, his neat f lick setting up Sigurdsson two minutes into the second half and then firing home via a deflection in 73 minutes.

Alan Pardew picked up a point in his debut as West Brom manager as they drew 0- 0 against his former club Crystal Palace.

The Baggies are without a Premier League win in 13 games but Palace moved off the foot of the table courtesy of Stoke’s 2-1 victory at home to struggling Swansea.

Wilfried Bony’s fine volley put Swansea ahead in three minutes but Stoke turned the game on its head towards the end of the first half.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Diouf scored within four minutes of each other to leave the Swans rock bottom.

Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions with a 5-1 thumping of Brighton.

Emre Can powered a header home on the half hour and Roberto Firmino finished a fine team move to make it 2- 0.

He added his second just after half- time but Glenn Murray slotted a penalty for Brighton. Philippe Coutinho’s strike and a Lewis Dunk own goal completed Reds’ rout.

Spurs’ winless run in the league was extended to four games in a 1-1 draw at Watford.

Christian Kabasele opened the scoring before Son Heung- min equalised for Spurs who had Davinson Sanchez sent off in 52 minutes.

Burnley lost 1- 0 at Leicester with Demarai Gray on target.