Liverpool (AFP) – Veteran goalkeeper Shay Given’s unfortunate own goal proved the difference as Everton continued their fine start to the new season by beating Stoke City 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
The 40-year-old Given, who was in the Republic of Ireland squad at Euro 2016, did well to turn a Leighton Baines penalty onto the post six minutes into the second half, only for the ball to come back off him and in.
However, the win was no less than Everton deserved for their domination of the game and it left Ronald Koeman’s still unbeaten side with seven points from three matches.
In contrast, Mark Hughes’s Stoke have now lost two Premier League games on the bounce and have just one point to their name.
Summer signings Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie both made their first Premier League starts for the Toffees after also featuring in the 4-0 midweek win against Yeovil Town 4-0 in EFL Cup.
Everton were seeking to avenge a 4-3 defeat to Stoke in a thrilling encounter in last season’s corresponding fixture and they were unlucky not to be ahead at half-time.
Romelu Lukaku had a shot cleared off the line by visiting captain Ryan Shawcross and Wales centre-back Williams then saw his header from a Kevin Mirallas cross turned away by Peter Crouch.
Given also saved well from Mirallas but he was finally beaten just after the restart following referee Michael Oliver’s decision to give a penalty when Williams went down in the area.
With new England manager Sam Allardyce and Irish assistant coach Roy Keane watching on from the stands, Stoke nearly drew level almost straight away when a Marko Arnautovic shot came off the legs of Maarten Stekelenburg and struck the bar.
