I've Never Heard Such Optimism From Everton Fans Since The Days Of Kendall And Lineker

You would have struggled to find many Evertonians in April who didn’t want the season declared null and void.

Not just because their neighbours were about to explode with joy and relief at winning their first league title in 30 years, but because Everton had little or nothing to play for.

During Project Restart they rarely rose above the turgid and, at the beginning of close-season when targets Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Gabriel went elsewhere, there were fears Carlo Ancelotti would tire of trying to squeeze results from a substandard squad and walk away.

And then, almost overnight, the entire landscape appeared to change.

In came a new midfield of Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez, for the cost of one-and-a-bit Gylfi Sigurdssons, and once Evertonians ceased rubbing their eyes and focussed them on the opening game, they glimpsed a rare sight.

A first away win against a top-six side in seven years, and a first opening-day triumph outside of Goodison since 2001.