Everton were well below their best and got what they deserved as they fell to a 2-0 loss to Leicester City at Goodison Park.
Goals either side of half-time from Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes put paid to a two-match unbeaten streak for the Toffees as they suffered defeat in their final home game before the break for the World Cup.
Both sides had their chances early in the first half. In the fourth minute, Everton keeper Jordan Pickford got down when to a Patson Daka snapshot.
Then for the Blues, Alex Iwboi spurned a good opportunity for the Toffees in the sixth minute when his angled effort went wide of the far post.
Everton couldn’t have conceded at a worse time when Tielemans bagged in the 45th minute when a wonderful 25-yard volley.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a big chance for Everton to equalise just moments into the second half but saw his one-vs-one effort saved by Leicester keeper Danny Ward.
And in the closing stages, the Foxes lauched a swift counter attack which was rounded off by Barnes with aplomb.
Here’s how we rated the Everton players.
Both sides had their chances early in the first half. In the fourth minute, Everton keeper Jordan Pickford got down when to a Patson Daka snapshot.
5. Vitalii Mykolenko - 5
Not involved enough in the opening 45 minutes, although did send in one cross when the game was goalless that Iwboi should have done better with. Some OK moments defending the back post in the second period but always a hard task to mark Maddison. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
6. Idrissa Gana Gueye - 4
Started the first half off really quick and won the ball for Iwobi’s chance. But then his performance went downhill as he gave away several fouls and gave the ball away on numerous occasions. Not a big surprise he was subbed at half-time. Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
7. Amadou Onana - 4
Genrally quiet in the opening 45 minutes. Headed a chance over but not much else apart from that. Sliced a volley in the second period before being subbed in the 61st minute. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
8. Alex Iwobi - 6
Will be disappointed he didn’t open the scoring with a big chance he sent narrowly wide. Showed his usual energy in the opening 45 minutes but quality wasn’t quite there. Only player who looked like he might make something happen in the second half, slipping in Calvert-Lewin fir a chance that should have been buried, Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images