Everton scored a comfortable win over Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.
Romelu Lukaku netted a first-half brace and Ross Barkley tallied his second goal of the season as Roberto Martinez's men took their chances on the south coast.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute when Belgium international Lukaku fired home a header from Arouna Kone's right-wing cross before doubling his side's advantage on the stroke of half-time when he swept home Barkley's through ball from the edge of the area.
With just over five minutes remaining, Barkley extended Everton's lead when he received a pass from Seamus Coleman on the left side of the area before cutting back in and rifling beyond Maarten Stekelenburg.
The victory has Everton sitting fourth on the league table with four points from two matches as Southampton sit one spot above the drop zone having conjured just a draw thus far.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Southampton: 0
Everton: 3 (Romelu Lukaku 22'/45', Ross Barkley 76')
St Mary's Stadium, Southampton - 30,966
TALKING POINTS
- Can the Saints quickly bounce back from this disappointment in their Europa League play-off against FC Midtjylland?
- Can Lukaku fulfil his enormous potential this season?
- Will Everton challenge for a top-five finish this term?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Southampton host Danish side Midtjylland in Europe on Thursday before heading to Watford on Sunday as Everton look to remain undefeated at home against high-flying Man City.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great win today! On to the next one! https://t.co/2tJrbb3zBN
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) August 15, 2015Brilliant all round team performance today.
— Ross Barkley (@RBarkley20) August 15, 2015It's a pity to lose my first match. Sure we'll have much better days at St Mary's Stadium! Thanks for your welcome! pic.twitter.com/mT0jH3Mkkv
— Oriol Romeu (@OriolRomeu) August 15, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Everton boss Martinez on his side's victory:
"A good day at the office - I think that's a very good way to put it.
"The intensity was incredible. The way we work as a team was very pleasing, then on the counter attack we looked unplayable."
Southampton's Koeman on the manner of Everton's goals:
"Maybe the best example to tell about what happened in the first half was two times a corner kick and one goal and one chance.
“You can't do that kind of mistakes on this level."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
43 - Romelu Lukaku is now the top scoring Belgian in Premier League history, one ahead of Christian Benteke. Race.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 15, 20152 - Ross Barkley has scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time in his career. Fruition.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 15, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
SOUTHAMPTON
Goals - Graziano Pelle, Shane Long 1
Assists - Cedric Soares, Dusan Tadic 1
Yellow cards - Steven Davis, Graziano Pelle 2
EVERTON
Goals - Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku 2
Assists - Arouna Kone 2
Clean sheets - Tim Howard 1
Yellow cards - Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Ross Barkley 1
