There was a hug on the final whistle for Duncan Ferguson, a wave to all four sides of an appreciative Goodison Park and an embrace for every player who eventually got his Everton career off to an ideal start.
For Rafael Benítez, the first day in a potentially troublesome office unfolded perfectly as spirit, quality and tactical acumen combined to produce a stirring comeback against Southampton. Benítez’s victory salute was reciprocated by a long-awaited full house of Evertonians enthused not only by second-half goals from Richarlison, the outstanding Abdoulaye Doucouré and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.