Goals from James Garner, Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucoure earned Everton a comprehensive 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Goodison Park.

Garner set the Blues on their way early on with a confident finish, before summer recruit Harrison doubled the lead with an outstanding controlled volley before half-time.

Doucoure sealed the result with a close-range effort on the hour mark, as the dominant Toffees - who registered 25 efforts on goal during the contest - secured their first clean sheet of the season.

Harrison was handed a full Premier League debut for Everton as manager Sean Dyche made one change to his starting line-up after last weekend’s disappointment against Luton Town.

The winger was initially due to replace Amadou Onana, but Idrissa Gana Gueye was eventually the man to miss out after suffering a minor injury in the warm-up ahead of kick-off.

A rare dose of October sunshine graced Goodison as play got under way.

Dyche’s message to his players was clear before kick off — “Be the difference,” he wrote in his programme notes. There was, understandably, a feeling of expectancy at Goodison Park, the Blues’ sell-out crowd clearly keen to see a reaction after a frustrating result seven days ago.

The perfect response, then, when Garner netted the opener - his maiden Premier League goal for the Club - in emphatic fashion inside eight minutes.

Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi slipped under pressure from Abdoulaye Doucoure, allowing Garner to seize on the loose ball and slam home past Neto from the edge of the penalty area, ignoring options to his left and right.

It was the shot of confidence Everton required and Dyche’s charges remained on the front foot following the strong start, with 43 per cent of the opening quarter of an hour played in the Cherries’ defensive third.

After conceding four successive corners, Bournemouth then looked to be growing into the contest as the first half reached its midway point but the Toffees comfortably rode out a short spell on the back foot and doubled their advantage eight minutes before the interval.

It came in superb fashion, too.

After Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto had punched clear successive crosses from both flanks, the second of those half-clearances fell to Harrison, who had a quick glance before caressing his volley into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

It nearly got better for Everton - twice - before the half-time whistle, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header cannoned back off the crossbar and Onana’s swivel and shot flashed agonisingly wide in stoppage time.

Everton are unbeaten under Dyche when leading at half-time (W2, D1) and were in no mood to let that record slip here.

Doucoure had a glorious chance to notch the Blues’ third with the second period less than 60 seconds old, seizing on Zabarnyi’s loose pass but his left-footed effort was tame and comfortably held by Neto.

The Mali international wouldn’t have to wait too much longer to get on the scoresheet, though.

Onana picked Adam Smith’s pocket to win back possession just inside Bournemouth's territory, sparking a move down Everton’s left wing. Dwight McNeil stood up a cross at the back post and after Harrison’s close-range header was heroically cleared off the line by Milos Kerkez, Doucoure was on hand to smash home to extend the host's advantage.

That strike led to a plethora of further opportunities for Everton but Doucoure flashed over with a first-time effort and the outstanding Calvert-Lewin’s dinked effort over the on-rushing Neto drifted a yard wide of the target.

It took until 72 minutes for Jordan Pickford to be called into action and even then it was a comfortable catch to keep out Dominic Solanke’s six-yard header.

The Blues continued to control proceedings but there were chances at both ends with 13 minutes remaining.

McNeil first cleared an effort off the line following a Bournemouth corner before a lung-busting run and shot at the end of a counter-attack that forced Neto into a save at full stretch.

The Premier League now pauses for a fortnight for international action, with Everton next back in action in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday 21 October (12.30pm BST).

Blues Garner Dream Start

James Garner provided the dream start against the Cherries, thundering home his first-ever Premier League goal on eight minutes.

The Blues midfielder has provided three goal contributions in his last four matches for Everton across all competitions (2G 1A), with both of his goals coming inside the first 16 minutes (8th minute v Bournemouth; 15th minute v Aston Villa).

Garner's early strike also means the Toffees have scored three goals in the opening quarter of an hour, more than any other team in the Premier League this season.

A Debut To Remember

Jack Harrison became the first Everton player to score on his first Premier League start at Goodison Park since James Rodriguez (v West Bromwich Albion in September 2020) - and what a way to do it.

He was also handed an assist after his close-range header led to Abdoulaye Doucoure's second-half goal, while he finished the contest with 100 per cent success rate from his seven passes in the final third.

The winger contributed at the other end of the pitch, too. He topped Everton's charts for possession won (10).

Calvert-Lewin A Constant Handful

Having scored three goals in his past three outings, Dominic Calvert-Lewin may feel a tinge of disappointment he couldn't extend his record of scoring in successive games here.

Nonetheless, it was an excellent performance from the Blues' number nine, who won more aerial duels than any Everton player (seven) and, underlining his involvement, equalled the highest number of touches in the opposition box (seven).