What a shambles.
Ronald Koeman asked for aggression – but got flat-footed surrender.
The Everton boss demanded a reaction to last weekend’s mind-wrecking quick collapse against Spurs – but got a repeat.
Koeman is facing his first crisis at Goodison Park, with a side looking shorn of belief, and more crucially, resilience.
The excitement at a Europa League campaign turned to trepidation, as Atalanta ran riot.
Three goals in 17 minutes before half time left some Everton fans walking out, and heads scrambled.
With a visit to Old Trafford on Sunday, Everton have to get back to basics and arrest their alarming slide.
Man of the Match: Gomez
Everton
Stekelenburg 3
Rare chance to impress but conceded too easily
Holgate 2
A weak link and didn’t scare or get near enough to his winger.
Jaglielka 2
Recalled and looked rusty in a ponderous defence
Keane 3
Got in some decent blocks but defence was weak faced with runners
Baines 3
Was marking a giant in Hans Hateboer and had hands full
Besic 3
Up against powerful opponents and didn’t do basics of tracking runners
Schneiderlin 3
Against with ex Boro midfielder De Roon but needed more in defence
Vlasic 3
Worked hard to get into the game but Everton needed more possession
Rooney 5
Kept the ball early on but ended up tracking back
Sigurdsson 4
Snap shot after 11 minutes went close, but that was all
Calvert-Lewin 4
Broke swiftly on the counter but wasted final balls
Subs
Klaassen (Rooney 66) Finalist last year with Ajax
Ramirez (Schneiderlin 66) Ran arond a bit
Mirallas (Calvert-Lewin 76) No impact
Not used: Pickford, Williams, Martina, Gueye.
Atalanta:
Berisha 6, Toloi 6, Paomino 6, Masiello 8 (Caldara 76), Hateboer 7, Cristante 8 (Kurtic 83),Freuler 7, de Roon 7, Castagne 7, Petagna 7 (Cornelius 80), Gomez 8
Subs: Orsolini, Haas, Gollini, Bastoni
Ref: Vladislav Bezborodov