Theo Walcott scored a brace as Everton held on to beat Leicester City 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Claude Puel’s visiting side were without Riyad Mahrez, despite his much-discussed move to Manchester City falling through, and the Foxes struggled in the first-half in particular.
Part of an attacking clear-out at Arsenal, the £20m Walcott looks to be settling rather nicely on Merseyside.
After providing an assist in his first appearance for the Toffees against West Brom at the weekend, the 28-year-old opened the scoring against Leicester on 25 minutes, via a close-range finish from a Gylfi Sigurdsson pass.
Walcott then put the hosts 2-0 up before the break, this time via a volleyed effort.
In the second period, the Foxes got a goal back, with Jamie Vardy converting a spot-kick after Wayne Rooney fouled Wilfred Ndidi in the box.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser but the game would in a precious win for the Toffees.
That win was Sam Allardyce’s 389th as a managed in English club football, coming in his 1000th game, and the Everton boss is sure to be pleased with the start made by Walcott.
The Toffees also welcomed back full-back Seamus Coleman, with the Irishman making his first appearance in 10 months since suffering a double leg-break against Wales.
Indeed, it was an evening of good news for the Merseysiders while for Leicester, it was first defeat of 2018.