David Moyes wore a look of irritation and frustration as he went to shake hands at the final whistle.
The Scot knew that for much of the contest his home side had been the equal of the club he once managed.
But, as has been the case often for Everton, big-spending opponents delivered a moment of quality for which the Toffees had no response.
Moyes has promise in his squad. That was clear when looking at Harrison Armstrong, former Manchester United midfielder James Garner, who excelled at right-back, and Tyrique George, who was denied by Senne Lammens deep in stoppage time as Everton desperately chased an equaliser.
James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane are reliable and experienced. But the elite level depth is not there.
Moyes spoke in his programme notes about chasing targets beyond the ones Everton have recently been used to going after. In recent seasons, their mission has essentially been to deal with a chronic financial situation and stay up.
A new stadium means new ambitions, and there has been no relegation danger this season. But Everton want more than mid-table security.
The only problem with that is – as Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are finding out – without sufficient resources, juggling Premier League and European football is a fresh strain on resources than can be exceptionally tough to overcome.
Moyes will keep pushing for those loftier spots in the table because it is his nature, but perhaps the top half and no more would not be a bad outcome for the first campaign away from Goodison Park.