Arouna Kone was the toast of Goodison Park after scoring a clinical hat-trick in Everton’s 6-2 demolition of Sunderland.
The Blues ran riot, scoring six Premier League goals for the first time in eight years to climb back into the top half of the table.
The impressive Gerard Deulofeu set Everton on their way in the 20th minute before Kone netted his first of the afternoon to double the lead.
The visitors dragged themselves back level with goals from Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher either side of the break.
However, the response from Roberto Martinez’s charges was fantastic, scoring four times in the second half to chalk up the Club’s biggest total in the league since the Black Cats were dispatched 7-1 in November 2007.
The Toffees were back in ahead when Sebastien Coates put through his own net and the lead was extended when Lukaku raced clear to score his eighth goal of the campaign.
Sunderland’s defence crumbled and Kone was the man to profit - lashing in another with his left foot before completing his hat-trick with a header.
Prior to kick-off, the Club showed its respect for the British Armed Forces with a period of silence - impeccably observed by all inside Goodison.
Gareth Barry - wearing the captain’s armband in Phil Jagielka’s absence - was joined by Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole in laying a wreath in the centre circle.
After four minutes of play - a reference to the shirt number worn by Howard Kendall - the home and away supporters were on their feet, clapping in unison to remember the contributions of the Everton Giant.
On the pitch, the post came to Everton’s rescue twice in the opening stages as Sunderland raced out of the blocks.
First, Fletcher teed-up Patrick van Aaanholt, who saw a left-foot effort from 12 yards out bounce back off the inside of the woodwork.
Winger Adam Johnson then hit the same upright minutes later, after Tim Howard - appearing for the Blues for the 400th time - had made a superb save to thwart Defoe.
After the two early scares, Everton took the lead with their first meaningful chance of the game in the 19th minute.
Kone played a delightful lofted pass to Deulofeu, who beat the offside trap, cut inside and finished confidently through the legs of Costel Pantilimon.
The Spaniard found himself in oceans of space for the goal - and he was left unmarked again in the next attack. This time, however, he opted to cross but Lukaku was a fraction away from getting a finishing touch at the far post.
The Blues had hit their stride and after Pantilimon saved well from Seamus Coleman, Kone doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark with an excellently-crafted goal.
The Ivorian played a neat one-two with Lukaku on the edge of the box before unleashing a perfectly-placed left-footed drive into the top corner.
It seemed Everton were heading into the break in a commanding position - but moments before referee Andre Marriner’s whistle for the interval, the visitors pulled a goal back through Defoe. The veteran striker’s volley found the net with the aid of a slight deflection off John Stones.
Another setback was an injury to Bryan Oviedo. The Costa Rican had kept his place on the left side of defence but he was forced off early during the first half, with Brendan Galloway stepping off the bench as his replacement.
Shortly after the the restart Sunderland were back level thanks to Fletcher’s header.
The Scotland international leapt high inside Everton’s six-yard box to nod in Van Aanholt’s centre from the left.
Everton then went goal crazy, scoring four times in the space of 21 minutes to race out of sight.
The lead was regained when Coates stuck out a boot to put Deulofeu’s cross into his own net.
The Spaniard then delivered another sublime assist - a perfectly-weighted slide-rule pass for Lukaku, who strode clear, rounded Pantilimon and coolly converted to restore the two-goal advantage.
The rest of the game was all about Kone.
The striker got his second and Everton’s fifth on 62 minutes, ramming home another left-foot finish after being played in by James McCarthy.
And Everton’s number nine completed his treble by heading in Lukaku's exceptional cross a quarter of an hour before the end - the second Goodison hat-trick this season following Steven Naismith’s against Chelsea in August.
Substitute Duncan Whatmore wasted the chance to pull another goal back for Sunderland late on but by then the Toffees were home and hosed.
After suffering defeats in the two previous league meetings against Manchester United and Arsenal, this was a stylish way for Martinez’s men to get back on track.
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