Flying start sets Everton on the way to thumping win against Leicester

Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the fourth-fastest goal in Premier League history after just 10 seconds as Everton powered to a 4-0 victory over struggling Leicester and moved 10 points clear of danger.

Beto, the Toffees’ only fit striker, then scored twice before the interval for the first time in his Goodison career to send a timely message he is ready to fill the void left by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s lengthy absence.

It all amounted to more trouble for under-pressure Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose 17th-placed side have lost eight of their last nine league matches since he was appointed on December 1st.

The contrast in the opposing technical area was stark. Under David Moyes, Everton have won three consecutive league matches for the first time since April after an initial defeat on his return to the club.

Moyes is desperate to add to his threadbare squad before the end of the window but may find solutions from within as Beto, aided and abetted by the much-needed vision of James Garner in his first start since October after injury, played a crucial role and eventually departed to a standing ovation just before Iliman Ndiaye scored the fourth in added time.

Such has been the confidence Moyes has brought on his return there was not even mention of a “relegation six-pointer” in the build-up and what played out on the pitch justified that.

The team was unrecognisable from the goal-shy one which had laboured so much under Sean Dyche as they made it seven in successive home games.

In their most barren spell, the month from mid-December, Everton scored once in six league matches.

Here, thanks to some benevolent Leicester defending, they scored two in the first six minutes for the first time in the top flight since March