The Blues began on the back foot at Kingsmeadow with the Toffees applying the early pressure and creating a couple of chances. Guro Reiten put us ahead against the run of play, but from the moment Sam Kerr added a second we didn’t look back and eventually ran out easy winners. Hayes acknowledged mixed emotions afterwards.

‘I was disappointed with us in the first 20 minutes of the game,’ she started.

‘We didn’t execute the gameplan defensively. That’s something for me to address tomorrow with the team because for two games running we have started slowly. That’s not acceptable. If you’re playing a top team, you can’t afford to go one and two down in a game. I will deal with it tomorrow in analysis. The team know that, we will show and share that, and it’s something we will improve.

‘That being said, we were ruthless,’ continued Hayes.

‘It was a 2.08 xG game yet we’ve scored seven goals. There’s been many games where we’ve had higher xG, more clear-cut chances and been less efficient.

‘We scored four from five in the first half, and for that reason we came in at half-time in a comfortable place. Second half you’re in a comfortable place and the players enjoyed themselves.’

Kerr left the pitch on the half-hour with her replacement Pernille Harder scoring twice

‘Sam was sick last night. She decided to play but her calf was cramping up so we decided to take her out.

‘It allowed P to have a little bit longer than maybe we would have wanted, but we have missed so many goals from Pernille Harder this year. She comes on and scores with her first touch.

‘We saw goals from midfield which we haven’t had enough of this year,’ Hayes added after seeing Jessie Fleming, Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert find the net.

‘When we lose goals from P and Fran, we don’t have any goalscorers across the team. If we’re saving it for the last block, then fine with me!’