Everton put four past Stoke City at Goodison Park to move into the top four of the Premier League this afternoon.

The Toffees started the match on the front foot, testing Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic with a curling free kick from Gerard Deulofeu in the second minute.

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Deulofeu was a live wire in the first half, forcing Begovic into another save in the 15th minute, his effort going through a crowd of players before being smothered by the Bosnian.

Neat link-up play between James McCarthy and Romelu Lukaku carved out a further chance for the Blues moments later, but the former could only drag his shot wide.

Everton continued to up the tempo, with Leon Osman unleashing a vicious drive just before the half-hour mark, producing yet another impressive save from Begovic.

The home side took the lead on the stroke of half time, just moments after Jonathan Walters had missed a sitter for Stoke, Deulofeu rifling a shot into the top corner after Steven Pienaar and Gareth Barry played a neat one-two.

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Everton added a deserved second shortly after the restart through right-back Seamus Coleman, who latched on to a Deulofeu cross and scuffed a shot into the far side-netting.

Roberto Martinez's men made it three in the 56th minute courtesy of a long-range screamer from Costa Rica international Bryan Oviedo that left Begovic stranded.

Stoke's best chance to grab a consolation goal fell to Peter Crouch in the 61st minute, but Everton keeper Tim Howard made short work of his low strike.

The hosts completed the rout in the 77th minute through Lukaku, who put away an Oviedo cross to claim his eighth goal since joining Everton on loan from Chelsea.