The Goodison Park era for Everton Football Club has officially come to an end, and it does so with a 2-0 win over relegated side Southampton.
The Toffees did most of the work via a dominating first half that saw two goals from Iliman Ndiaye and two disallowed goals from Beto, who wandered just offside on both occasions, although he finished well, first with his right foot and then with a powerful header.
The first goal from Ndiaye came early on, after a few passes from Jarrad Branthwaite to Idrissa Gana Gueye, the ball found itself at the Senegal international's feet. Ndiaye promptly dribbled to his left and fired from just inside the box, zipping it past Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to put Everton up in the 6th minute.
The first half's only sad moment came when club captain Seamus Coleman was forced to be substituted off in the 18th minute, with Ashley Young coming on for the Irishman, who sprinted down the tunnel, although he would return to the bench later in the match.
Otherwise, it was an impressive showing through much of the half for the home side, as Beto's first disallowed goal came in the 30th minute, after a great challenge from Gana, who found James Garner down the pitch. The Englishman made a great pass to Beto, who fired it past Ramsdale, but the striker was just offside.
Just three minutes later, a free kick by Dwight McNeil wasn't great, but the ensuing scrum led to a ball into the box by Abdoulaye Doucoure, which found Beto and was in the back of the net moments later. But the striker was again just offside.
Southampton wasn't enjoying much of the ball and didn't put up much of a fight for the home side, but Everton were still a bit nervous heading into the final minutes of the half with just the 1-0 lead.
Then Ndiaye struck again, as McNeil ventured forward and began to make a pass, only for it to be knocked away by a Southampton player. But it found Ndiaye making a run in the box, who took it to his feet, danced around Ramsdale, and slotted it home to give the Toffees a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half produced very little, although both sides created chances, although it could be argued that the visitors were the nearest to scoring.
A bad back pass in the 62nd minute by Young led to a chance for substitute Ross Stewart, but it was well saved by Jordan Pickford, and the ensuing corner saw a shot over the bar from Mateus Fernandes.
Later, in the 84th minute, Cameron Archer worked himself close to the goal and produced a shot that required a great save from the Everton goalkeeper, leaving the clean sheet intact.
And that was all she wrote for the final match at Goodison Park.
Everton did the job, and the victory means that none of the teams behind them can catch them in 13th place until the final weekend. The Toffees will head to Newcastle to take on the Magpies at St. James' Park next Sunday.