Busy, bewitching and buoyant, Theo Walcott rolls back the years to give Everton’s Marco Silva era it’s first win
Everton 2-1 Southampton: Walcott looked a constant threat along with Richarlison, who scored his third goal in just his second match to help Evert seal all three points
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Your support makes all the difference.Theo Walcott rolled back the years to spark a first win of the season for Everton and new manager Marco Silva.
The frontman made former club Southampton suffer as he opened his goal account for the campaign in the 15th minute before setting up Richarlison to make it three in two appearances for the precociously gifted 21-year-old.
Southampton poached a consolation through Danny Ings, a deadline-day signing from Liverpool, but remain without a win themselves.
Silva, in his pre-match notes, reiterated how change was underway at Goodison following his arrival with the playing style and philosophy highlighted and a clear emphasis on an attacking approach.
Integral to that will be the performances of his wingers.
With a two-goal salvo on his debut at Wolverhampton on the opening day, there was intrigue on Richarlison's first league appearance in front of the home faithful.
Yet it was his fellow wideman Walcott who provided the impetus for this success, clearly much needed following the club's transfer outlay in the summer.
In the colours of the visitors 13 years ago, he once had the greatest of expectation, and burden, when he was called up to England's 2006 World Cup squad at just 17.
Walcott never fulfilled that potential when he went to Arsenal and, at 29, turned to Everton in January to revive his fortunes.
And busy, bewitching and buoyant, here was a glimpse of what once made him special.
Alert in the 15th minute, Walcott calmly finished off a clever, well-worked free-kick routine involving Leighton Baines and Morgan Schneiderlin for the opening goal.
He then turned provider for the second 16 minutes later with a fine cross from the right that picked out Richarlison to nod powerfully past Alex McCarthy, who had earlier kept out headers from Michael Keane and Cenk Tosun.
It was a combination of class and composure.
Had the Saints shown similar at the other end they may have garnered greater reward for their own efforts.
Charlie Austin was wasteful when he peeled away from Mason Holgate, deputising for the suspended Phil Jagielka, to head a James Ward-Prowse free-kick wide.
Having scored three times in as many appearances against Everton, it was a surprising miss - and one that would duly be damaging to the visitors as they attempted to end a 21-year wait for victory at Goodison.
Only an outstretched arm from a desperate Jordan Pickford denied Ings, deflecting a close-range shot onto the bar after the England keeper had spilled a 20-yard drive from Cedric Soares.
With national team boss Gareth Southgate in attendance, Pickford was relieved his error was not punished.
Yet he was beaten in the 54th minute when a Ward-Prowse corner was flicked on by Mario Lemina and there was Ings, back on Merseyside after his injury-plagued spell at Anfield, to turn in and prompt a Saints rally.
Walcott, though, could have staved off any late tension.
On the first occasion, he swept home a pass from Tosun but the Turkey striker was flagged offside before he crossed from the left.
It was a matter of inches. As too was a shot from Walcott moments later that whistled past McCarthy's post after the frontman had engineered the opportunity with a brisk break and exchange of passes with Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Saints pushed forward in numbers with Mark Hughes having three strikers on at the end, but they lacked the guile to break down the home backline.
Teams
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford 6; Coleman 7, Holgate 6, Keane 7, Baines 7; Schneiderlin 7 (Davies 24), Gueye 6; Richarlison 7 (Niasse 86'), Sigurdsson 7, Walcott 8; Tosun 6 (Calvert-Lewin 75').
Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Zouma, Davies, Lookman, Kenny
Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy 6; Cedric Soares 6, Stephens 6, Hoedt 6, Bertrand 6; Redmond 6, Romeu 6 (Gabbiadini 72'), Lemina 7, Ward-Prowse 7 (Armstrong 84'); Austin 5 (Long 58'), Ings 7.
Subs not used: Gunn, Yoshida, Long, Højbjerg, Targett
Referee: Lee Mason
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