- Rooney returns, scores (VIDEO)
- Pickford makes late save
- Stoke one shot on frame
Stoke City’s lively second half wasn’t enough to offset Wayne Rooney’s first half stoppage time goal, and Everton edged the Potters 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Challenges await both clubs, as Stoke visits Arsenal next week while Everton visits Manchester City.
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Mark Hughes had his men ready for the road, and Stoke had the better of play in the opening half of the season
Idrissa Gana Gueye did have a smart chance from outside the 18 in the 24th minute, but the defensive-minded midfielder’s attempt looked a bit like a defensive-minded midfielder’s attempt.
And then, Rooney. The longtime England and Manchester United captain returned home with much fanfare this summer -- making the start of this sentence super necessary -- and was on the scene to nod over Jack Butland and put the Toffees up just before the break.
Fellow ex-Red Devils leader Darren Fletcher pulled a 22-yard strike wide of the near post in the 58th minute as the Potters pushed for an equalizer.
It looked set to be 2-0 when Dominic Calvert-Lewin pick-pocketed Stoke 30 yards from goal, but the youngster shot instead of cutting the ball back and Butland forced a corner.
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4869 - @WayneRooney has set a new @premierleague record for the longest gap between goals for the same team (4869 days). Home. pic.twitter.com/5eZBFyzTga
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2017
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