Record-Breaking Goal Helps Everton Cruise Past Leicester

The fastest goal in Everton history set the Blues on their way to a resounding 4-0 home win over Leicester City.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's early strike was officially clocked at 10.18 seconds - the fastest-ever goal in Goodison Park's 132-year history and the fastest scored by any home side since the Premier League began in 1992.

The Toffees' lightning start continued as Beto calmly slotted home to double the advantage with less than six minutes played.

Beto then tucked away his second of the contest and Everton's third of the afternoon in first-half added time to ensure David Moyes' side held a three-goal advantage for the second consecutive home game.

Iliman Ndiaye added the gloss to a superb team performance in the dying embers as Moyes' momentum continued with a third straight victory.

FIRST HALF

Everton boss Moyes made two changes - both enforced - from the side that battled to a 1-0 away victory over Brighton the previous weekend, with Beto and James Garner recalled to the starting line-up in place of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala.

The Blues' record-breaking opener, unsurprisingly, came straight from kick-off, as James Garner - on his first start since 5 October - got the game under way by playing the ball back to Jordan Pickford, whose long ball forward bounced on the edge of the Leicester penalty area before Doucoure took over, bringing it under control with his chest before confidently dispatching into the corner of the Park End net.

The feeling of surprise inside Goodison quickly turned to delight - and that was cranked up further just five minutes later.

This was only Beto's third Premier League start of the campaign and the challenge had been laid down by Moyes, who said in his pre-match interview: "What we need from him is moments of quality, finishing when we get the opportunities and, look, we're all wishing him well because this is a big opportunity for him to show what he can do."

Consider this an opportunity grasped with both hands.

It was a defence-slicing pass that played in Beto - and Everton's No.14 burst past Wout Faes before tucking the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with aplomb.

The Toffees had the ball in the net again after 20 minutes when Jake O'Brien prodded in from close-range after Garner's inviting deep corner had been met by Jarrad Branthwaite but the offside flag was raised to cut short the celebrations.

At the midway point of the opening period, Leicester, while shading possession, still hadn't mustered a shot on goal.

The visitors' first attempt came a few minutes later but Victor Kristiansen's venomous effort from just inside the penalty area flew narrowly over Pickford's crossbar after the hosts had failed to fully clear a rare corner.

But Everton remained in control of proceedings and continued to look dangerous every time they poured forward.

Beto was denied a strong case for a penalty after a barge from Faes, before Doucoure squandered a good opportunity following a cut-back from Vitalii Mykolenko after the Ukrainian had been found in the left channel with an inch-perfect pass by Branthwaite.

But Everton would stretch their lead before the interval.

Garner, who had been superb throughout on this comeback appearance, provided an assist-of-the-season contender, with a 30-yard, slide-rule pass between Leicester's two centre-backs for Beto, who made no mistake in composing himself and rolling into the corner of the net.

SECOND HALF

Everton would no doubt have had Tottenham's late surge the last time they were on home soil in the back of their minds as they came out for the second period.

But the Blues retained an impressive sense of control from the first whistle after the restart - and looked the side more likely to get the contest's next goal.

Garner was at the centre of things again, releasing Beto, who shrugged off a challenge from Faes, before seeing his low centre blocked with Ndiaye lurking.

Everton's dominance was underlined when, with 73 minutes on the clock, Leicester substitute Patson Daka fired straight at Pickford, only to be met with ironic cheers from the travelling Foxes supporters after managing their first shot on target.

Jesper Lindstrøm looked for all the world like he would open his Everton account moments later when he was found by Doucoure inside the penalty area - but the Dane's low drive was kept out by the feet of compatriot Hermansen.

Ndiaye's drive then curled inches wide of the post after some trademark dazzling footwork.

There was a standing ovation for Garner as he made way for Tim Iroegbunam, who had been absent with a foot injury for the same period of time, in the closing stages.

Ndiaye eventually registered on the scoresheet, capitalising on a defensive error before calmly sliding into the Gwladys Street net for his eighth goal of the campaign. 

The number of games left at Goodison Park now stands at single figures, with Bournemouth - the first of nine more visitors - next at the Grand Old Lady in the FA Cup next weekend.