Everton 3-1 QPR: Barkley scores stunner as Toffees leapfrog Liverpool in table

Everton got their season back on track with a comfortable 3-1 win over an error-strewn Queens Park Rangers, as three points at Goodison Park sees the Toffees leapfrog Liverpool in the Premier League table.

Blues boss Roberto Martinez was hoping to regain some much needed confidence with victory against the Super Hoops following three defeats from their last four games.

And in some ways they received an early Christmas present from Harry Redknapp’s men, whose woes away from home continue, as two deflected strikes from Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas, plus another goal following goalkeeper Rob Green’s blunder, handed the hosts a straightforward victory.

Second-half substitute Bobby Zamora did pull one back for Rangers, but it proved only a consolation as the Loftus Road outfit remain in the bottom three, while Everton rise to tenth.

QPR are yet to claim a single point on the road this season and there were few signs that run would end on Merseyside, as – while they showed plenty of spirit – they showed little composure in front of goal without suspended top scorer Charlie Austin.
It seemed Everton might also suffer without the presence of suspended Gareth Barry in the centre of midfield, but Barkley’s pace and eagerness to get forward instead gave them an added dimension in attack.

His bustling runs from midfield were the focal point of the majority of Everton’s best forward moves, and it was the 21-year-old who eventually broke the deadlock with a fine 20 yard strike on 33 minutes.
The England youngster orchestrated the counter-attack, nicking possession on the halfway line and playing a neat one-two with Romelu Lukaku, before drilling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
It was a superb hit, though it did take the slightest of touches to take the ball out of Green’s reach, but there was a greater degree of fortune for the hosts when they doubled their lead shortly before half-time.

Mirallas’ curling free-kick took a huge deflection off Eduardo Vargas in the QPR wall, with his header sending the ball past a wrong-footed Green and into the opposite corner of the goal.
And Rangers’ misery only continued after the break when Steven Naismith headed in Everton’s third just eight minutes into the second-half.

Green and captain Richard Dunne were the guilty parties, the goalkeeper first miss-hitting a clearance and the defender doing the same on the second attempt to gift the Toffees possession on the edge of the box, allowing Aiden McGeady to burst down the right to send a perfect cross into Naismith, who prodded his header across the goal and into the net.

Zamora was introduced moments later and immediately gave QPR a boost, while Everton – perhaps knowing three points were already in the bag – took their foot off the gas.
And the hosts’ drop in tempo saw the London side strike back, Zamora tapping in for his first goal of the season after Tim Howard – who has very little to do all night – could only parry Jordon Mutch’s effort straight to the striker.

It meant little in the end though as Everton – who almost added a fourth in the closing stages when substitute Samuel Eto’o hit the post with a side-footed effort – closed out an easy win.
You could have forgiven Martinez if his celebrations were muted, however, as the victory was tainted by a late injury to key-man Mirallas, who was stretchered off with an ankle problem following a late challenge.

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