What we learned: Preson North End 0 - 4 Everton

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Job done, and job done in superb style.

Thierno Barry was the star of the show as Everton ran out 4-0 victors over David Moyes’s former club Preston North End, becoming the first Toffees player to bag a hat-trick since Dominic Calvert-Lewin in 2020.

Here’s what we learned. 

BARRY STRUTTING HIS STUFF

Barry had a superb pre-season and he has maintained that momentum into the start of the campaign, and he is playing with a smile on his face.

“Last season, I didn’t show the real Thierno,” the 23-year-old told Sky Sports after the game, as he clutched the match ball. 

He danced away after his goals, and if he can keep up these kinds of displays, then he will certainly be well on his way to showing Everton were right to invest in him last year.

Barry is Everton’s undisputed number one striker now, and with Beto reportedly attracting interest, then the main question is how the Toffees choose to back the Frenchman up this term.

Each of his goals came from the centre of the goal, but they were all fantastic in their own right, as Barry displayed great anticipation and movement for each of them.

The cherry on the cake was his cute assist for Brennan Johnson, which came after he had robbed back possession and charged forward. 

JOHNSON OFFERS WHAT EVERTON HAVE SORELY MISSED

Yes, Preston’s legs were gone... and yes, it was against weaker opposition, but to see Johnson come on and make such an impact was a pleasure, and it shows why it was the right move to swap out Dwight McNeil for the Wales international.

Johnson is not world class, but what’s more important is the type of player he is. He wants to run in behind, he wants to stretch defences and play vertically, and — especially against tired legs — that’s such a useful attribute.

Frankly, it’s also one Everton just haven’t had at their disposal for far too long, and for Johnson to come on and lay on an assist and then net himself, ending a 33-game scoreless streak, added further gloss to a fine night.

STARTING STRONG PAYS OFF

Moyes’s pre-match comments were ill-advised and needless, even if they were, in context, seemingly more about trying to prove a point rather than the Scot saying he did not want to win a trophy.

But Moyes picked a strong team, setting the tone by starting Jordan Pickford and resisting the urge to use Mark Travers, and he got the rewards with an accomplished display in which Everton tallied up 29 shots, 3.9 xG, and faced only one attempt on target. That was worth it over resting a few more legs just 1 game into the new season!

WOLVES NEXT… AGAIN

It’s at home this time, but once more, Everton will take on Wolves in the 3rd Round of this competition.

At the same stage last year, Moyes made too many changes at Molineux and Everton paid the price. It can’t be the same this time around.

… BUT, QUESTIONS LINGER OVER O’BRIEN

On Saturday, Moyes name-checked Jake O’Brien as a player likely to feature here. Instead, the defender was left on the bench.

Whether O’Brien is simply seen as fourth-choice centre-back — which, in my opinion, would be a shocking call — or he was left out because of the speculation and reports, and Everton are now aiming to protect a potential asset in the final week of the transfer window, nobody but a select few inside the club will know, but it’s sad to see the Irishman not get a chance to show what he can do in his preferred position.

An intriguing few days ahead…

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