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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save late on.