A completely dominant Everton are 3-0 up against Premier League bottom side Aston Villa at half time of the clash at Goodison Park.
After an impeccably observed rendition of 'La Marseillaise' it was the home side who took control in the opening stages, with Villa sitting back and allowing the Toffees to dominate the early possession.
Although some promising early ventures forward broke down in the final third, Everton were always the more likely to find the breakthrough and it arrived after 17 minutes when a fine passing move ended with Brad Guzan only parrying Gerard Deulofeu's low effort, and Ross Barkley was on hand to turn home the rebound.
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Villa began to string some passes together after falling behind, but Everton remained the dominant force and only a fine reaction save from Guzan prevented Arouna Kone's clipped effort doubling the lead after Deulofeu had beaten Ciaran Clark with ease.
It was 2-0 just minutes later, however, when Seamus Coleman got forward down the right to whip a cross in for Romelu Lukaku to head home his eighth Premier League goal of the season across Guzan and put the home side firmly in control.
Villa were chasing shadows in the midfield thanks to some fine interplay from the Toffees, and it was 3-0 minutes before the whistle when Barkley turned home his second after the Villa defence failed to clear when Guzan denied Kone.
Tom Nightingale
