It’s been a positive start to the season for Ronald Koeman and his Everton side, and they sit in sixth position with 18 points from their opening 10 Premier League matches.

After starting the campaign with four wins from their first five encounters, the Toffees then endured a slightly less fruitful run of results as they went four matches without taking all three points, including a 2-1 loss at Burnley.

However, thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, they returned to winning ways when they beat West Ham 2-0 at Goodison Park last weekend to move to within two points of Tottenham in fifth.

As Koeman managed to achieve in successive campaigns with Southampton, the target for the Merseyside outfit will be to qualify for European football this term, which they are on course to do currently.

But with just over a quarter of the season complete, who have been their top performers?

ROMELU LUKAKU

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With seven goals in nine Premier League games this season, you do have to wonder where Everton and Ronald Koeman would be without their Belgian striker.

Although he frustrates supporters at times, the Toffees seem to struggle to find the target when their 23-year-old marksman isn’t on form, and he offers more than just goals – Lukaku has also registered three assists this term and has linked up with summer signing Yannick Bolasie brilliantly in recent weeks.

IDRISSA GUEYE

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Much has been made about the impact of N’Golo Kante at Leicester and now Chelsea, but Gueye has had a similar effect at Goodison Park since making the move from Aston Villa in the summer – for a fraction of the price.

The £7.1m man has made an average of 4.5 tackles per game – the highest number in the Premier League - and has registered 88% in terms of passing accuracy meaning he is quickly establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the top flight.

GARETH BARRY

Gareth Barry

Alongside Gueye in the Everton midfield is a man that has made 605 Premier League appearances, and shows no sign of easing off.

Koeman will be pleased to have the experience of the 35-year-old to call upon, and he has been in fine form for the Toffees this term, making 22 clearances from a defensive point of view, while also scoring two goals to show that he can still be a big threat at the top end of the pitch as well.