• Everton 2-0 Everton

Rarely, if ever, has Goodison Park applauded every opposition shot, save and substitution, but then it has never hosted such a comfortable no-lose contest before. Everton versus Everton – there could be only one winner.

This unique pre-season friendly was an unequivocal triumph for The Ruleteros Society, a group of Evertonians who have forged links with their Chilean counterparts since their formation in 2002 and were instrumental in bringing Everton de Viña del Mar to Goodison Park for the first time in the club’s 101-year history. A crowd of 25,934 marked a significant increase on corresponding Goodison friendlies of recent years, including testimonials for legends such as Colin Harvey, with 171 fans making the trek from South America. Fulham brought 162 for the Premier League game here last season.

Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford produced a promising home debut, linking well with his team-mates and opening the scoring in the 51st minute when he glanced a cross from fellow summer signing Magaye Gueye into the top corner. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov ensured Everton kept their 100% record in pre-season so far with a volley from Gueye’s corner.

Of more significance to manager David Moyes was the return of Marouane Fellaini after six months out with ankle ligament damage. The influential Belgian midfielder was expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from the injury suffered against Liverpool in February, but appeared for the second half in place of Jack Rodwell. Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka – all linked with moves away from Goodison this summer – played, while referee Mark Halsey was given a rousing reception on his return to the game after recovering from throat cancer.

EvertonFriendliesAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

Phil Brown’s previous visit to Merseyside ended with a vote of confidence from the Hull City board following a 6-1 destruction by Liverpool. His days of being on the brink of the sack may have passed, but the threat to Hull’s Premier League status remains very much alive after this stroll for Everton.

Mikel Arteta orchestrated the return to winning ways for David Moyes’s side, who have now won six successive league games at Goodison Park – their best sequence in four years. He scored twice and forced Richard García to head into his own net. Despite a superb equaliser and first league goal for Tom Cairney, the visitors were a distant second-best throughout and only Everton’s generosity spared them from a heavier defeat than on the opposite side of Stanley Park.

Hull can at least take solace in the return of Jimmy Bullard, the man upon whom survival arguably rests, in his first start since December. As Arteta has discovered, it can be a slow journey back to form and fitness after a serious knee injury but the Spaniard, in his finest display since his return from an 11-month absence, is getting there.

Arteta gave Everton an early lead when Leon Osman released Yakubu wide on the left and, from the Nigerian’s inviting cross to the back post, the midfielder ghosted in unmarked to despatch a deceiving volley past the keeper at the near post. Yakubu then won and wasted a controversial penalty when he fell under a challenge from Kamil Zayette but stroked a lazy, arrogant penalty that Boaz Myhill saved comfortably. As well he should have.

Yakubu’s miss seemed to assume added significance when Phil Jagielka, another player starting after a long-term knee problem, headed Bullard’s free-kick clear and Cairney swept an outstanding volley beyond the keeper from the edge of the area. But a fine collective move, involving Osman, Victor Anichebe and a nonchalant back-heel from Steven Pienaar, prised apart the Hull defence and enabled Arteta to roll his second into the far corner.

García headed into his own net attempting to clear Arteta’s chip over Myhill in the second half, before Landon Donovan, on his scheduled final appearance at Goodison before returning to LA

• Spanish midfielder faces another two months on sidelines
• Benni McCarthy seeks move away from Blackburn Rovers

Mikel Arteta has suffered another setback in his recovery from a cruciate-ligament injury that may sideline the influential Everton playmaker until the new year.

The Spanish midfielder has been out since rupturing the cruciate at Newcastle United in February but there are fears he may need a second minor operation, and his third on the problem in total, with the knee still causing discomfort.

Everton’s manager David Moyes, missing several senior players since last season, initially hoped to have Arteta available again in September. That target was postponed for two months when the midfielder underwent surgery shortly after his return to training, but a November comeback now appears unlikely with Arteta still troubled by the problem when he reported back to Finch Farm at the weekend.

The club have yet to decide whether the 27-year-old requires further surgery but it has not been discounted – it would likely delay his return for a further two months. The dilemma represents a major setback for Moyes, whose absentee list has reached double figures this season.

He remains without Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Victor Anichebe, Steven Pienaar and James Vaughan, all with knee problems. Moyes is also concerned about Tim Cahill’s fitness as the team prepare for tomorrow’s Europa League return meeting with Benfica, and for which John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are ineligible.

Cahill missed training on Monday, along with Leon Osman, after picking up a knock in Saturday’s draw against Aston Villa but he will receive intensive treatment and is likely to play with discomfort, given that Moyes has so many holes to fill in his side.

Benni McCarthy, meanwhile, has admitted that he wants to leave Blackburn Rovers and will seek a January move, according to his agent. The South African striker, 32 next week, has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Ewood Park this season, making just one start in 10 league games, although he has scored two Carling Cup goals.

“Yes, Benni wants to leave Blackburn,” Rob Moore said. “He has not been given the chance to show his worth this season in the Premier League and it seems like he is not the type of player Sam Allardyce is looking for.”

Moore added that McCarthy’s countryman Elrio van Heerden, who joined Rovers in the summer, may also be searching for a new club in a bid to boost his World Cup chances. “This has been a bad season at Blackburn for both Elrio and Benni neither seem to be the kind of player that fits into the Blackburn system and both need to move on in January,” he added.

EvertonPremier LeagueDavid MoyesAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk