In a remarkable display of counter-attacking football, Everton secured a resounding 5-1 victory over Brighton, lifting themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone and causing a significant dent in Brighton’s European aspirations.
The match got off to a flying start as Everton took the lead just 34 seconds in, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin setting up Abdoulaye Doucoure for a simple tap-in after a defensive error from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk.
Doucoure then doubled Everton’s lead with a precision volley from Dwight McNeil’s cross just before the half-hour mark. McNeil was heavily involved in Everton’s third goal, as his low cross deflected off the foot of Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele and into the back of the net.
Brighton’s first half was nothing short of shambolic, and they were fortunate not to be trailing by more than three goals at the interval.
Everton’s solid defense in the second half meant that Brighton struggled to make a comeback, and Everton added a fourth goal through McNeil’s well-taken finish after Alex Iwobi’s incisive pass.
Brighton did manage a consolation goal through Kaoru Mitoma’s sliding effort, which rebounded off the post and into the path of Alexis Mac Allister, who slotted it in.
But it was too little, too late, and McNeil’s stunning strike in added time ensured Everton emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s seventh-place position in the league was left unchanged, and they remain seven points behind Liverpool in fifth, albeit with two games in hand.
In the other match, Leicester City suffered a blow to their survival hopes as they succumbed to a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Fulham.
Despite a late rally that saw them score three goals through Harvey Barnes and James Maddison, Leicester remain just above the drop zone on goal difference.