IF Russell Martin's Saints is to be defined as possession football, then Everton's style against Simon Rusk's side was procession football.

Iliman Ndiaye's first-half brace ensured the Toffees walked it on their final outing at Goodison Park, as Saints were so bad it was embarrassing. 

The hosts did not add to Ndiaye's two goals but did not need to and, save for a small fightback, their 2-0 win looked comfortable throughout.

For Saints, it was their 29th defeat of the Premier League season, and one more against Arsenal at home on the final day will set a new record.

But this occasion was all about Everton, as they said goodbye to the 'Grand Old Lady', and one of England's most historic football grounds.

Goodison Park hosted its first match 133 years ago, and as it prepared to host its final men's game, its surrounding streets were packed by 9am.

The Toffees are set to move to a new ground at Bramley Moore Dock, named the Hill Dickinson Stadium, from the start of the 2025/26 season. 

Saints had not won at Goodison since 1997 until a 2-1 under Nathan Jones two years ago, but they won here on penalties in the cup this season too.

The St Mary's side spoiled Manchester City's moving-out day at Maine Road in 2003 with a 1-0 win and were looking to repeat the trick on Merseyside. 

Saints made two changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Man City last time out, losing Jan Bednarek to a minor knee concern - officially, anyway.

The Pole is likely to leave the club in the summer, as is absent Kyle Walker-Peters, while loanee Lesley Ugochukwu was replaced by Joe Aribo.

Joachim Kayi Sanda, 18, was named in a Premier League squad for the first time, joining under-21s teammate Jay Robinson for this historic clash.

Goodison Park was a cauldron, inspired by nostalgic videos played, whole stadium renditions of traditional songs and the reading of an Everton poem.

It took only five minutes for their players to respond and lift the roof even further off, as Ndiaye rifled in the bottom left corner from range.

His strike followed a period of impressive one-touch play before Kamaldeen Sulemana's attempted tackle fell kindly for the Senegalese.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis was required to make a goal-saving block and prevent the second after Beto caught Aaron Ramsdale in possession.

Portuguese striker Beto then had two goals ruled out for offside in quick succession; the second was a header finishing a lovely team move.

It was three times unlucky for, Beto whose late equaliser was ruled out for offside in the reverse fixture at St Mary's, which Saints won 1-0.

VAR had a look at Everton's second goal in first half added time but determined Ndiaye was onside before rounding Ramsdale to finish his second.

It was a dreadful first-half performance - surely one of the worst in the club's history - having just two touches in the Everton box and no shot.

Things did not improve after the break and Rusk opted for a triple-change on the hour mark, notably replacing Nathan Wood with Cameron Archer.

Substitute Ross Stewart had Southampton's first shot on target seconds later, prompting ironic celebrations in the away corner.

Those same fans broke into applause and song again when former Saints midfielder Charly Alcaraz was introduced from the Everton bench.

They did not have much else to celebrate but were given more cause for concern when Harwood-Bellis limped off assisted by medical staff.

It meant a debut for 18 year old French defender Kayi Sanda, who signed for Saints from Sport Republic's Valenciennes in January. 

Saints started to stage a bit of a fightback and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford brilliantly denied Cameron Archer a goal from close range.

That was as close as they went, finishing the afternoon still on 12 points with just one match left to play until the curtain is drawn on the season.

Everton: Pickford; Coleman (Young, 17), O'Brien, Branthwaite (Keane, 74), Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure (Harrison, 65); McNeil (Alcaraz, 65), Ndiaye (Calvert-Lewin, 74), Beto.

Unused subs: Virginia, Patterson, Chermiti, Iroegbunam.

Booked: Garner.

Saints: Ramsdale: Bree, Harwood-Bellis (Kayi-Sanda, 82), Wood (Archer, 60), Stephens, Welington; Downes, Aribo (Smallbone, 60); Fernandes, Dibling (Robinson, 67); Kamaldeen (Stewart, 60).

Unused subs: McCarthy, Manning, Ugochukwu, Sugawara. 

Booked: Downes.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

VAR: Timothy Wood.