Matchwinner Wayne Rooney admitted he couldn’t imagine a better way of marking his first goal back at Goodison Park.
The Blues Academy graduate netted his first home goal in 13 years and five months with a pinpoint header to secure a 1-0 win and all three points in the Blues’ league curtain-raiser against Stoke City.
Goodison erupted as Rooney scored his first competitive goal for Everton since 13 April 2004 - when he netted in a 1-1 draw at Leeds United - taking his Premier League goals tally to 199 in the process.
And the 31-year-old forward admitted it was the ideal way to kick off the new league campaign, with fixtures coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.