Published: 22:08, 3 November 2025 | Updated: 22:08, 3 November 2025

The fact your first instinct was to think back to the greats, those who made it look the ball was on a string, spoke volumes.

Was it over the top to use Chris Waddle or Roberto Baggio as a reference point for Iliman Ndiaye? Could it be suggested his close control evoked images of Ryan Giggs or – whisper it very quietly – a couple of Argentine lads (you know their names) who used to play in Barcelona?

Plenty will scoff but, occasionally, you go to a football match and see a skilful player do something quite magnificent, the kind of moment that makes fans leap from their seats and ask those next to them: 'My God, did you see that?!'

Ndiaye was 50 yards from Sunderland's area, on the right touchline, when Everton's rookie centre forward picked the pocket of Noah Sadiki. He nudged the ball to his Senegalese colleague and, from there, it felt like he was being guided by joystick.

Around Granit Xhaka he went, his balance as perfect as...