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UNTIL now, Gian Piero Gasperini's biggest influence on Everton was being the coach in the away dugout at Goodison Park on the night that Atalanta triumphed 5-1 in a Europa League group game on November 23, 2017.

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

It was a chastening experience for Blues as caretaker manager David Unsworth's side were torn apart by the Serie A outfit whose margin of victory could have been even greater had home goalkeeper Joel Robles not saved a penalty.

Back in Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport lamented of Everton's Wayne Rooney, who had returned to the club that summer after 13 years at Manchester United: “He is a walking monument. It is sad to see him in this condition.”

The Blues' Prodigal Son showed he still had a bit left in the tank at Goodison six days later with a hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of David Moyes’ West Ham United - sealing his treble with an incredible strike from within his own half - but the damage had been done and Sam Allardyce, watching from the stands had already been appointed.

Now though, Gasperini, who would go all the way to lift the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024 with a 3-0 success over Xabi Alonso's German domestic double winners Bayer Leverkusen, inspired by a hat-trick from ex-Blue Ademola Lookman, could be sending an even more poignant message to Everton.