The last thing Everton needed after scraping over the line to survive at the end of one season, was to leave themselves hostages to fortune at the start of the next.
Everton did plenty right despite starting the season with a 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea but an avoidable flaw was brutally exposed at Goodison Park and must be addressed instantly.
The sale of Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m was an inevitable consequence of last season's struggles, the talisman who did so much to keep Everton in the Premier League understandably seeking a higher stage on the Champions League.