A controversial Middlesbrough goal from Alvaro Negredo after 21 minutes woke Everton from their slow start to such an extent the home side overturned the deficit and had the game won 3-1 by half time.
After the hosts ran riot with three first half goals, the two teams went through the motions in the second half as the Blues comfortably closed the game out to win four of their first five games for the first time since 1978-79.
Positives
Even at this early stage, matches under Ronald Koeman are without the prevailing dread of recent seasons.