A deserved victory

half, came in useful to hack away the ball inches from the goal line after Williams’ header bounced past Given, who tipped over Mirallas’ strike from the edge of the area.

Everton’s other Belgian forward looks a different player already this season compared to the forlorn, despondent one he was in the final months of Roberto Martinez’s reign.

Mirallas was back to his livewire best with electric pace, driving runs and threatening shots.

Five minutes into the second half Shawcross was at it again, throwing himself at Lukaku’s close-range shot, but even the Stoke captain was powerless to prevent Michael Oliver awarding a penalty when Phil Bardsley tangled with Williams from the resulting corner. Baines resumed spot-kick duties from Lukaku, last season’s main taker, but the leftback was relieved to see the ball creep over the line via post and goalkeeper.

As the tempo increased Everton’s otherwise untroubled goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg deflected Marko Arnautovic’s shot on and Given palmed away Barkley’s strike.