FOR a few hours, Blackpool surged to the top of the Premier League at the weekend.

A 4-0 win over Wigan culminated in the improbable sight of the Seasiders perched at the top of the tree come Saturday tea time.

Chelsea’s rout over West Bromwich Albion in the late kick-off soon restored order, but, for a short time at least, the Tangerines could dare to dream.

It was the kind of statement Evertonians had hoped for at Blackburn.

Instead, they trudged away from Ewood Park wondering where it all went wrong.

Of course, the first day of the season is much too early to make bold predictions, and this was a million miles from the doom and gloom that descended on Goodison Park in the wake of last year’s abject opener against Arsenal.

But not for a long time has there been the sense of anticipation among the club’s supporters for a new campaign to get underway than this one.

With everyone fit, it was a rare luxury trying to second guess David Moyes’ team selection prior to kick-off.

The return to competitive action for Marouane Fellaini meant no place in the starting line up for England Under-21 captain Jack Rodwell following his man of the match performance against Uzbekistan in midweek.

Seamus Coleman didn’t even make the squad, whereas Yakubu was innocuous by his absence, fuelling speculation the Nigerian striker is on his way to West Ham.

Meanwhile, the Everton bench boasted a World Cup finalist. John Heitinga was joined by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and new boys Jan Mucha, Magaye Gueye and Jermaine Beckford.