Everton lost their opening Premier League International Cup match against VfL Wolfsburg at Southport.
James McCarthy started the game for a young Blues side and will have been pleased to get 45 minutes under his belt but the visitors were the better team and deserved their 3-1 win.
Wolfsburg started brightly but Everton quickly found their feet and almost took the lead courtesy of some splendid improvisation from Harry Charlsey who blocked a clearance from the keeper, Phillip Menzel, and chipped the ball towards goal only to see it cleared off the line.
Everton took the lead in the 23rd minute when Boris Mathis forced the ball past Menzel following a scramble in the goalmouth.