Everton 3-1 Middlesbrough: Boro no match for Toffees

Bolasie showed great strength, and refusal to be knocked off the ball, outside the area and chipped in a flawless cross which Lukaku managed to convert with the faintest of touches past Valdes. Coleman cuts in from the right, beats a defender and slides the ball in at the near post.

Arsenal are level on points with Chelsea and Liverpool, who met at Stamford Bridge on Friday, the Merseyside club winning 2-1. Everton in control now.

Perhaps predictably, Mason allowed play to continue and Barry, at a tight angle on the corner of the six-yard box, finished superbly for the 52nd goal of his distinguished career.

Boro striker Alvaro Negredo seemed to foul the keeper and many believed the goal shouldn’t have counted.

Middlesbrough went 1-0 up in the 21st minute after a controversial own goal from Stekelenburg.

Sanchez claimed Arsenal s first goal when Alex Iwobi s shot flicked off him and into the net, only to then see his spot-kick saved by Eldin Jakupovic after Jake Livermore had been sent off for handball. Was heavily involved in Barkley’s earlier chance as well. Gaston Ramirez whips in a unsafe ball, but no one can get on the end of it. The start wasn’t good. “He watched all the clips and we had a good talk and finally it is up to the player”.

Koeman also had his say on Ross Barkley’s performance after recently stressing he expects more from the midfielder.

Everton’s starting XI: Stekelenberg; Baines, Jagielka, Williams, Coleman; Barry, Gueye; Bolasie, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.

Everton already look more cohesive and potent than they did in the final two years of Martinez’s reign and in the lightning-quick Bolasie they possesses a direct option that was often lacking under the possession-based game of the Spaniard. It was one game what happened last Monday and he understands.

Everton won for the fourth time in succession and retained the second-place berth they occupied coming into the day thanks to another impressive come-from-behind victory.