Everton played out a thrilling 6-2 victory over Sunderland on Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park, but how did the players fare individually?
Here are my player ratings from the weekend’s goalfest.
Tim Howard – 7
The American was under huge pressure given his recent form and he made some solid saves to ease the doubts for the time being. He couldn’t have done anything about either of the goals.
Seamus Coleman – 6
It could be argued that the right-back is still feeling his way back to full fitness, but he has looked short of his best for a long time now. A solid display on Sunday, but not the marauding full-back Evertonians have come to know and love over the years.
John Stones – 6
A characteristic lack of concentration resulted in Jermain Defoe’s goal that got the visitors right back into the game on the stroke of half time. We have been saying it for a while, but the centre-back needs to cut the silly errors out of his game sooner rather than later.
Ramiro Funes Mori – 7
He was outjumped by Steven Fletcher for the equaliser, but the Sunderland forward is better than most in the air.
That aside, it was a typically assured performance from the rapidly improving Argentine.
Bryan Oviedo – 6
It is hard to give the left-back a mark given he suffered yet another injury early on in the game, but he did seem assured and solid in the little time he did have on the pitch.
Brendan Galloway – 7
The youngster was confident and steady as he came on for Oviedo early doors, and his inclusion in the first team never comes as a surprise, such is the speed with which he has settled into Premier League life.
Gareth Barry – 8
The midfielder started the season well, then went on a bit of a wobble and now he looks like he is regaining some form again.
Barry broke up attacks at will and recycled the ball with speed and intelligence.
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James McCarthy – 9
Surely his best display of the campaign thus far? The former Wigan man was a thorn in the side of the Black Cats in both halves of the field as he put in a wonderfully energetic showing that was full of industry and quality.
Leon Osman – 5
The lifelong Everton player came on in the second half in what should have been an easy match for him to excel in given the circumstances.
However, the midfielder looked well off the pace and made a mistake that could have contributed to a goal for the away side.
Arouna Kone – 10
The striker has received an awful lot of criticism over the last year or so, on these pages in particular, so it is only fair that he receives all the platitudes after his stellar performance at the weekend.
The Ivorian was busy throughout, consistently linked the play in the final third and netted a brilliant hat-trick. Well deserving of a perfect rating and a contract extension.
Ross Barkley – 6
The Blues’ play going forward was outstanding at times, but Barkley just couldn’t get in on the action, try as he might.
He did have a hand in the fifth goal, but his passing was wayward, he looked like he was lacking concentration at times and his defensive work-rate was as ever non-existent.
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Gerard Deulofeu – 9
Another display full of dazzle and sparkle for the incredibly talented Spaniard. The 21-year-old scored the first, made two more with some sublime assists and was a threat throughout.
He looks a more complete player since his loan spell two years ago and it is clear that Roberto Martinez has an absolute gem on his hands.
Kevin Mirallas – 8
The wide man will have been desperate to impress given his recent lack of action and the fact that the players competing with him for a starting spot were sensational on the day.
The Belgian looked sharp when he was introduced and was perhaps unlucky not to grab a goal in his lively cameo.
Romelu Lukaku – 9
Sam Allardyce must hate Romelu Lukaku – the forward has scored in every one of the last six matches that he has featured in against a side managed by Big Sam.
Lukaku was outstanding for the entirety of his time on the pitch, bullying a weak Sunderland backline, netting a lovely goal and providing a gorgeous assist for his partner in crime Kone late on.