Everton dug deep and put in their best performance under Frank Lampard to beat Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison Park.
The Toffees desperately need the three points as they try to stave off the threat of relegation and the win means that they move four points clear of third-from-bottom Burnley, although the Clarets have a game in hand.
The defeat is a bitter blow for Manchester United’s top four hopes as the Red Devils’s chances of playing Champions League football next season are left hanging by a thread.
Ralf Rangnick’s side are three points behind 5th-placed Arsenal and 4th-placed Tottenham, but have played a game more than Spurs and two more than the Gunners. United have now won just one of their last six early kick-offs on a Saturday.
Jordan Pickford was called into action with some big saves early on for Everton, denying Marcus Rashford twice in the space of three minutes with a pair of superb saves, but it was the home side who broke the deadlock, courtesy of local lad Anthony Gordon.
After a fairly clumsy opening from both sides, the Goodison Park faithful erupted when Richarlison's cross was met by the England U21 star. His subsequent strike took a huge deflection off the back of Harry Maguire to wrong foot David De Gea and find the back of the net.
A big deflection, but the Goodison Park crowd won't care one bit, listen to that roar!
United’s attack looked toothless this afternoon and chances were few and far between. Bruno Fernandes fired a long diagonal ball over the top for Rashford, but the England forward, making his 200th Premier League appearance for United, failed to get a touch.
Everton looked to have won a penalty in the 77th minute following a coming together between Gordon and Alex Telles but referee Jon Moss waved away the appeals and VAR’s follow-up check found nothing wrong.
Ten minutes from time, Paul Pogba’s low, bottom-corner bound drive was experty snuffed out by the excellent Pickford while under pressure from Juan Mata. Minutes later, Jadon Sancho's cross picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the far post, but Demarai Gray recovered from an initial slip to make a huge block.
Pickford was the hero again deep into added time as he reacted quickly to deny Cristiano Ronaldo a late equaliser and wrap up consecutive home league wins for Everton for the first time since September. A monumental result for Lampard and anyone associated with Everton Football Club.
