This was a strong and composed afternoon from Everton, who produced their best overall performance for a while as they netted three times and could have scored more.
Having battled to two hard-fought one-nil wins at Manchester United and Bournemouth, either side of that dreadful defeat to Newcastle, the Blues played some excellent football and certainly deserved the win.
The main headline [from this match](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c1lrmd97dj4t) was Thierno Barry's long-awaited first strike for the Toffees since his £27 million signing from Villarreal in the summer.
It has been a long wait for the young Frenchman to finally break his duck and score for the Blues despite having become David Moyes' first-choice striker over the last few months.
Barry has been working hard and trying to get that breakthrough, but until Saturday, he had not been able to find the back of the net. And many Evertonians were perhaps beginning to wonder whether he would prove another busted flush up front.
So his goal, Everton's second of the afternoon, opened the floodgates of emotion for the 23-year-old, who celebrated as if he had just sealed the Premier League title for the team.
To be fair, it was understandable that, having struggled for so long to justify the fee Moyes and the Toffees had paid for him, he was going to be relieved and happy to be finally starting to deliver, albeit with only one goal so far.
Of course, Barry needs to kick on from here and start consistently converting the opportunities that the Blues' creative players are providing.
If he can do that, he may well save Everton a considerable sum were they to have to go into the January transfer market to overcome the lack of goals that has plagued the team for so long. Although I still think that if an affordable striker is available, the club should consider them.
The other biggest takeaway from yesterday's victory is the continued excellence of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who once again turned in a man-of-the-match performance and was also responsible for the Toffees' opening goal.
Dewsbury-Hall has been perhaps the Blues' best player over the last month or so, if not longer. His contributions have been vital in enabling Everton to start climbing the table and generating some real momentum in their season.
Although his recruitment might have been overshadowed by the addition of Jack Grealish in particular, Dewsbury-Hall might turn out to be the most important signing of the summer.
His goals are a real plus, but most of all, his versatility, work-rate, creativity, and consistency are proving very valuable assets for the side.
Dewsbury-Hall has largely operated in a more advanced attacking midfield role since the start of the campaign, but has recently been playing in a deeper central position with Idrissa Gueye out serving his red card ban.
When [Gueye departs](https://princerupertstower.com/injuries-pile-up-for-everton-with-african-duo-about-to-depart-01kbk1rgzt8p) for the Africa Cup of Nations, he will need even more in that role, particularly with other injuries to Merlin Rohl and the fact that James Garner may also have to play at full-back again.
Now Everton face a tough trip to Stamford Bridge to face a Chelsea side they have not beaten in West London since 1994. Then comes league leaders Arsenal, another London team the Toffees have very rarely defeated in recent seasons.
If the Blues are to have a chance of reversing that poor history, they will need to reproduce the level of performance we saw yesterday afternoon, with Barry continuing to turn chances into goals.