Everton thrashed a poor Hull side 5-1 as Everton`s record equalling run at home continued and realigned Evertonians sights on the coveted Europa League Positions.
Jagielka started at the back alongside Distin with Heitinga shuffled into the midfield. Yakubu and Anichebe both start with Donovan on the bench after suffering with an illness and tiredness.
The Everton defence looked shaky in the opening couple of moments, particularly Distin didn`t seem to cope well with the Jagielka partnership and some of his passes and positioning were decidedly wayward. This was flagged up as a problem as after a hopelessly ineffective offside trap allowed Garcia to slip into the box only for Everton to be saved by the onrushing Tim Howard who flapped the ball away from the box and it was eventually cleared.
Luckily for Everton Hull`s defending was even more incompetent.
Yakubu went close to opening the scoring as he broke through after being thread through by Leon Osman only for the cuddly Nigerian to place his right footed shot into the base of Myhill`s post.
Yakubu was showing his quality in this half as he chased down lost causes and tackling well. In a rare example of the Yak breaking in wide positions it was his arcing cross that set up the first goal.
The cross from Yak to the back stick outwitted Everton old boy Nick Barmby and left returning magician Mikel Arteta to volley home superbly at the back post.
Everton were by far and away the better team after the goal when ref Mason awarded a penalty for a clumsy tackle on Yakubu.
It was a shame that the quality of the Yak up to then wasn`t reflected in the spot kick as a typically lazy and casual run up to the kick was predictably saved to the right by Myhill.
If Everton had gone two up then you would have expected Hull to roll over but the penalty miss seemed to give Hull a fresh impotence and they came back on the attack.
A Hull free kick wasn`t properly cleared after Jagielka took down Zaki. Teenager Cairney took his first Premier League goal well with a strike from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Hull were only level for 8mins as Everton regained the lead as Mikel claimed his second of the day after a flowing build up play from Neville and finally Pienaar who back heeled the ball into the path of the onrushing Arteta who calmly side footed the ball through the defence and the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper.
The sight of Arteta`s missus on the big screen after the goal was possibly as good as the goal itself she really is a looker.
Jack Rodwell came on for Leon Osman just before the break. It is understood that Osman is carrying a niggling injury and that was why he was subbed.
England duty seemed to have pepped Baines up he was literally everywhere some of his runs down the wing were class and his crossing seemed to have improved. He is certainly stamping his claim on the England left back spot in the summer.
The second half picked up from where the last one left off, Everton were at their dominant best with some good flowing football with both wing backs romping forward.
The usually shot shy Phil Neville obliged the chorus of “shoooot” from the Goodison faithful but his shot was charged down by Nick Barmby. Rodwell also got in on the act but his shot was saved by Myhill.
Mikel Arteta was involved in Everton`s third of the afternoon. His cross from the right deceived the keeper and was headed laughably into the net by Garcia.
The excellent Heitinga who was played in midfield found himself pounding forward more often in support of Everton`s counter – attacks. He was also given a rare free kick but rather than thrash the ball goal wards he tried to curl his effort but it was blocked by the wall.
Hull made drastic changes by throwing on Altidore and Geovanni.
Hull did have occasional chances; one by Zayatte narrowly cleared the bar after the ball was swung in by Cairney.
Yakubu showed how much that today really wasn`t his day as his shot was comfortably saved by Myhill.
70mins in Landon Donovan made his possibly last Goodison park appearance in place of Anichebe.
His impact was immediate as he crossed the ball into the path of Yak but his shot cleared the bar.
Then his fairytale ending to his stint at Everton came true as he thrashed a well struck shot past the keeper at the Gladwys street end.
With chants of USA,USA still hot in his ears Donovan was involved again as Rodwell placed his right footed shot past the keeper from short range to make the score line look more like what Everton deserved as 4-1 still flattered Hull to a certain extent.
Everton were dominant today and thoroughly were worthy of such a big score line it`s just a shame that they can`t continue this form on the road.
Player Ratings
Howard
8 Made a good save in opening exchanges other than that had little to do and don`t think he could have done much about the goal.
Baines
8 England duty seems to have done him some good some great runs and crosses.
Jagielka
8 Solid at the centre back and think he will get even better when partnered with Heitinga.
Distin
6 not his best but yet not his worst don`t see him starting when Cahill is back
Neville
6 was better than normal but against Hull even I would look classy
Heitinga
7 Playing out of position but still did a good mopping up job he will be at his best alongside Jags.
Osman
6 It seems he was carrying a knock but still did well alongside Mikel.
Arteta
10 MOM simply another level of class, he can finish he can pass he literally is the package we have missed him big time.
Pienaar
7 some good runs and a great assist for Arteta`s second goal
Anichebe
6 Is not a right midfielder simple as that would like to see him running at defenders more.
Yakubu
6 Today wasn`t his day could have had a fistful if he took his chances but at least he was getting into the position to score.
Rodwell
7 Chipped in with another goal and should be looking at maybe starting games soon
Donovan
9 we seemed to step up a gear with him on the pitch he will be sorely missed
6 Didn`t get much match time