Unai Emery’s Aston Villa saw their title ambitions suffer a significant blow on Sunday as they were frustrated by a resilient Everton side.
The match was decided in the 59th minute when Thierno Barry capitalized on an error from Pau Torres and a rare fumble by goalkeeper Emi Martinez to dink the ball into the net.
The victory represents a major tactical triumph for David Moyes, whose side moved up to 10th in the table.
Villa, meanwhile, remain in third place but now sit seven points behind leaders Arsenal after failing to capitalize on numerous chances, most notably through Morgan Rogers.
The atmosphere at Villa Park turned from expectant to exasperated as the home side struggled to find a clinical edge.
Jordan Pickford produced a string of world-class saves, including a spectacular fingertip stop to deny Rogers late in the game.
For Everton, the three points provide further breathing space from the relegation zone and highlight the growing defensive solidity under Moyes.
Villa must now regroup quickly to prevent their season from losing momentum, as the gap to the top of the table begins to widen at a critical juncture.