Rooney scores, Everton wins Premier League opening match

The 31-year-old striker marked his return to the Premier League with Everton after 13 years away by scoring a goal in a 1-0 win over Stoke City.

The decisive goal at Goodison Park came in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Rooney ran into position, received a cross from Calvert-Lewin from the right wing, and headed the ball past goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Rooney's goal against Stoke City was his third since returning to Everton. He had previously scored two goals in four pre-season friendlies. Photo: Reuters.

The goal marked Rooney's return to the Premier League with Everton after 13 years away. The last time the English striker scored for the Merseyside club was when Rooney, aged 18, opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw between Everton and Leeds United on April 13, 2004.

The winning goal against Stoke City helped Rooney catch up with two famous seniors,Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard, in terms of goalscoring records in the opening round of the Premier League, each have eight goals.

By returning to Everton to play this season and participating in the opening match, Rooney also set a new Premier League record for the gap between two appearances for the same team in the tournament.

Before today's match against Stoke City, it has been 4,837 days since Rooney last played for Everton in the Premier League. That was the match he and Everton lost 1-5 at Man City in the final round of the 2003-2004 season, on May 15, 2004.

Returning to the match at Goodison Park on August 12, Rooney was the only bright spot in a match that was not really exciting.

Experience helped Rooney make a difference against Stoke City, but Everton need other new players to shine in order to realize their ambition of becoming a dragon and breaking into the top 4. Photo: Reuters.

Despite spending $113 million (81 million pounds) in the summer transfer market, Everton have yet to show a big breakthrough in the quality of their football as expected. Their expensive new players such as goalkeeper Pickford, center-back Keane, attacking midfielder Klassen, and striker Ramirez have either played averagely or lacklusterly.

Everton had only one truly successful combination in the entire match, which led to the goal at the end of the first half. The scorer, Rooney, joined the team as a free agent, while the assist provider, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was an investment for the future. The 20-year-old striker was recruited by Everton from Sheffield United last summer, for a very "soft" price - just £1.9 million.

Stoke City are still playing as annoying as the familiar image of this team over the years. Chelsea loan signing Kurt Zouma has integrated very well and promises to help them improve their defense further this season.

But that bright spot was not enough to help Stoke get a point, after they conceded a goal from Rooney's moment of brilliance and were unable to find an equalizer, despite doing so throughout the second half.

According to VNE