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Gylfi Sigurdsson’s goal propelled Everton to second place in the Premier League table as the Toffees piled on more misery at bottom Sheffield United.
Sigurdsson scored with 10 minutes remaining to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side a fourth consecutive Premier League victory, placing them two points behind rivals Merseyside and reigning champions Liverpool.
For the Blades, it was another loss. Chris Wilder’s team have lost 13 of their 15 Premier League games and are only the third club in top flight history not to win on St. Stephen’s Day, after Burnley in 1889-90 and Bolton in 1902-03.
The stormy conditions at Bramall Lane made things difficult for both teams and there were few clear opportunities in the game.
Alex Iwobi looked brilliant for the visitors during the first half. The midfielder was at the heart of much of the good at Everton and Aaron Ramsdale worked with a shot from the edge of the area, although his effort went straight to the goalkeeper.
Former Blade Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close just before the half hour mark. The forward, with 11 Premier League goals this season, made a pass from Michael Keane to Jack Robinson before unleashing a fierce volley just wide open.
Everton threatened again shortly after following a Ramsdale driving error. The 22-year-old spilled Sigurdsson’s free kick and had to be brave to block Ben Godfrey’s follow-up, catching the ball in his stomach.
The Blades’ best opportunity in the first half saw David McGoldrick circle goalie Jordan Pickford before Godfrey cleared his shot right in front of the goal line. However, television replays showed that the former Republic of Ireland international would have been offside if he had scored.
The hosts thought they should have had a penalty early in the second half when half-time substitute Oli McBurnie went down after fighting Keane. There was definitely a slight push from the Everton defender but the VAR decided it wasn’t enough to award a penalty.
Ramsdale parried a Sigurdsson effort with some confidence midway through the second half, but then worried his defenders with a less convincing maneuver to reject a Seamus Coleman cross.
Everton had been knocking on the door and made the breakthrough with 10 minutes to go when Sigurdsson scored to give them the lead, beating Ramsdale with a low shot after a good set-up play involving Abdoulaye Doucoure and Bernard.
It was the only real quality moment in the match and it was a serious blow to the Blades, who had once again been strong in the contest but faced the prospect of losing by a single goal margin for the tenth time in the Premier League East. year. season.
Wilder’s team threw everything they had at Everton in the final stages, but the visitors seemed confident to step back to watch the game with 10 men behind the ball.
McBurnie had a couple of chances in injury time, but lost his balance each time he headed over the bar and then dragged another effort out.
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