Richarlison scored for the third straight match as Everton beat Southampton 1-0 to earn their first home win of 2021 and move level with Liverpool in the top-four fight.
The Brazilian, who scored against Manchester City and Liverpool in his previous two matches, gathered a through-ball from Gylfi Sigurdsson and rounded Saints’ recalled goalkeeper Fraser Forster to slot home in the ninth minute.
Michael Keane thought he had doubled Everton’s lead, but his header was overturned for offside against Mason Holgate after a Video Assistant Referee review.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin went close after the break, but the Toffees then allowed Southampton back into the match.
Mohammed Salisu headed over and Moussa Djenepo fired wide from a good position inside the box, before Jannik Vestergaard forced Jordan Pickford into a match-winning save in the 90th minute.
Everton remain seventh but move on to 43 points, only behind Liverpool on goal difference, and with a match in hand on everyone above them.
Southampton are now winless in nine Premier League matches and stay 14th on 30 points, seven above the relegation zone.