Three early goals helped Everton return to winning ways as they thumped lowly Burnley at Turf Moor.
Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne and Gylfi Sigurdsson found the target as the Toffees, who went into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, went 3-0 up after 22 minutes.
Ben Gibson got Burnley on the scoreboard before the interval but Digne added an impressive long-range second in the second half and substitute Richarlison scored a fifth late on.
The Toffees, who suffered a 6-2 mauling against Tottenham in their last outing, raced into the lead after just two minutes courtesy of Mina’s towering header.
Joe Hart could only palm Digne’s excellent free-kick into his own net before Ben Mee was penalised for handling the ball inside his own area.
Sigurdsson sent Hart the wrong way as Everton put their mauling by Spurs firmly behind them, but Gibson’s goal after a goalline scramble gave the hosts some hope heading into half-time.
Burnley were much brighter in the second half, but as they chased the game they left space behind for the tricky Bernard to exploit.
The Brazilian did not get on the scoresheet, but his cushioned pass to Digne set up the Frenchman to drill the ball into the far corner and put the game firmly to bed.
Richarlison came off the bench to add the fifth as Everton moved up to eighth, while the Clarets remain in the relegation zone in 18th.
With Sunday’s heavy defeat by Spurs still fresh in the memory, Everton were determined to produce a blistering start at Turf Moor.
Boss Marco Silva left the talismanic Richarlison on the bench while Mina returned to the starting line-up after missing the defeat by Tottenham.
And the Colombia international, who cost just over £27m this summer, rewarded his manger’s faith with an excellent performance.
After giving the visitors the lead in the second minute, Mina was also excellent at thwarting Burnley’s fightback at the other end once Gibson’s goal had given them a foothold in the game.
The 24-year-old won more duels than any other Everton player (24), as well as winning the most aerial duels for his side.
His strength and pace mean he is a powerful defensive presence, but he also had the most touches of the ball (79), indicating his ability to play out of defence.
After the disappointment of missing out on selection against Spurs, his performance at Burnley was a statement Silva will find hard to ignore.
Burnley found themselves three goals behind before they even registered a shot at Jordan Pickford’s goal.
Sean Dyche opted to start Sam Vokes for the first time since November, in anticipation of a physical battle against Everton’s three towering centre-backs.
But their problems are at the other end and the hosts struggled to contain Everton’s speed and guile through the middle.
Burnley have now conceded two more goals this season than they did in the entire 2017-18 campaign.
Bernard, Sigurdsson and Walcott pulled the strings as Everton enjoyed large spells of possession, having killed the game as a contest in the first quarter.
Gibson, who was making his Premier League debut for the Clarets following his summer move from Middlesbrough, handed his side a lifeline with a scrambled goal.
And Tarkowski could have reduced the arrears to just one goal, but his side-footed effort from close range sailed over the bar.
Digne’s second ended the last of Burnley’s resistance after 26 minutes of the second half, and Dyche’s side will need to produce more at either end to arrest their current decline.
Source – BBC Sport
