Important three points for Everton

At the end of an excellent game of football that provided great entertainment for any neutrals watching, Everton have held on and clinched an important three points against Wolves.

This was a vital win for Everton. Wolves were always likely to pose a formidable test for the Blues and as one of their potential rivals for a top six place, a win today puts down an early marker.

The Toffees start to this Premier League season has been predictably inconsistent and in truth more than a little underwhelming.

After a tepid draw at Crystal Palace on the opening weekend and then a narrow 1-0 win over Watford, Everton slipped to defeat at Villa last Friday.

Facing another midlands side today at Goodison Park, represented a good chance for the Blues to recover some momentum and build on Tuesday’s league cup win at Lincoln City.

In a welcome and positive move, Marco Silva included Alex Iwobi making his first Premier League start along with Moise Kean, who also kept his place in the team after Tuesday night’s exploits.

This revised frontline gave the Toffees some real energy and explosiveness, which the side have been so much in need of.

Both sides started the match in determined attacking fashion and there were chances right from the off. The game was being played at a great tempo.

In a breathless first ten minutes, Everton went ahead after five minutes through an Iwobi goal before Wolves equalised just minutes afterwards. The Blues responded again and Richarlison put the home side back in front before a quarter of an hour had gone.

The game continued in that fashion for the rest of the first half. The away team’s Europa League exertions on Thursday didn’t seem to have had any real effect on them and they were always a great danger on the counter attack.

After the break both sides continued to push for goals and work hard but there were fewer clear-cut chances made.

But with just a quarter of an hour left, Wolves equalised after Everton went to sleep defensively and failed to deal with a set-piece.

That goal though seemed to re-energise the Blues. Not long after, Richarlison put the home side back in front before having a great chance to get his hat-trick with a superb effort, which was saved by Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.

Wolves were tiring now and although increasingly in control, Everton couldn’t ever feel totally comfortable.

Despite a few further edgy moments, the Toffees held on and with just seconds left in added time, Wolves had a player sent off to compound their frustration as the match finished 3-2.

So Everton move up to fifth in the Premier League table and are well positioned with the first international break of the season coming up.

On reflection although the Blues scored three goals and looked dangerous whenever they got forward, there were some worrying lapses in defence reminiscent of the early weeks of last season.

Not only were there some familiar weakness in the centre of defence, left-back Lucas Digne had an uncomfortable day against Adam Traore.

It may be that further work is still needed there to iron out any potential for the side’s defending to go backwards.

On the positive side, perhaps most pleasing aspect, apart from the three points and three goals, was the performance of Richarlison.

The Brazilian had started the campaign slowly but this was a sparkling effort as he netted twice and could quite easily have had his first hat-trick in English football but for some fine goalkeeping.

An honourable mention should also go to Gylfi Sigurdsson who is starting to look a lot more dangerous and effective.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

• Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
• Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
• Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
• More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
• Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions

I had thought he might have needed some time out of the side but I am more than happy to be proved wrong by that kind of performance!

In addition Iwobi looked good again, as on Tuesday, offering a real creative threat as well as getting another goal. And Kean was again a little unlucky not to score, surely the youngster’s first Everton goal can’t be far off.

But on a note of caution, the Blues have been a tough side to beat at Goodison Park for a while now.

Critically the next step is to replicate such performances away from home, starting with Bournemouth away when the Premier League returns.