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

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location directly at 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 the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.