£58k-a-week Everton star was ‘playing out his skin’ during 2-0 win over Chelsea

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Everton recorded their second impressive home victory in the same week, battling to a fine 2-0 win against Chelsea just three days after Newcastle United had suffered a similar fate.

Welcoming two top teams to Goodison Park amid patchy home form that had seen them win just once all season there, most fans feared the worst when viewing this double header in the fixture list.

However, Sean Dyche remained convinced that the results would come, attesting they had deserved far more than they had received.

Well, it seems that the 52-year-old’s prediction has come to fruition at last in emphatic fashion, climbing out of the relegation zone and extending a four-point gap between themselves and Luton Town.

With a number of outstanding performers today, pundit Peter Smith would tell highlight one man on Sky Sports (10/12/23, 15:39): ‘Mykolenko is playing out of his skin. It’s backs to the walls for Everton but they’re rising to the challenge.’

How did Vitaliy Mykolenko play vs Chelsea?

Few could argue with such a notion, with the Ukrainian part of an immense defensive showing that kept the likes of Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja silent.

Having endured a tough first few years on Merseyside, the turnaround enjoyed by the 24-year-old has been mesmeric and wholly unforeseen.

That was no better exemplified than in today’s showing, in which he deservedly earned a match-best 7.5 rating.

Such a figure was buoyed by a number of key defensive interactions, as the £58k-per-week stalwart managed six clearances, two blocks, one interception and seven tackles, via Sofascore.

Then, in turn, he would lose just five of the 14 duels he competed in, quelling the immense threat posed by the visitors. A solid display from a man who has even added some offensive potency to his game now.

Smith’s claim was true today, but it has been all campaign.

Mykolenko is a man transformed unde Dyche’s revolutionary leadership, in which Everton now sits third in the form table for the last six league matches.

Should he, and the rest of his side maintain such form, the sky truly is the limit for this Toffees team seemingly battling against the world. So far, they are winning.