Having lost 11 times at Goodison in 2021, Everton wanted a better start to home life in the new year than this.
They showed spirit in the second half when local youngster Anthony Gordon scored his first senior goals but it can't hide the fact Rafa Benitez's team stay in the bottom six following only one victory in 12.
There were predictable boos towards the struggling manager as even the return of talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin turned sour.
After missing four months to injury, Calvert-Lewin blew his comeback lines by sending a penalty into orbit when Everton trailed 2-0.