Manchester United has ended a run of three successive draws by beating Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park on Monday.
Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard saw United make a winning start to 2018, lifting them back above Chelsea and into second place in the process.
Everton, on the other hand, have now fallen to back-to-back defeats for the first time since October and see their five-match unbeaten home streak in the league come to an end following a toothless display on Merseyside.
Everton’s best opening arrived midway through the opening 45 minutes when Oumar Niasse broke into the box only to be thwarted by a fine last-ditch Marcos Rojo challenge.
United were largely limited to long shots against an obdurate Everton defence, with Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera all failing to hit the target with efforts from outside the box.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half saw Paul Pogba cut onto his left foot and curl a shot towards the bottom corner which took a slight deflection on its way narrowly wide.
Lingard also threatened moments later with a low strike across goal which went wide of the far post, but a half-time scoreline of 0-0 was fitting for the pedestrian nature of the first half.
United made a much quicker start to the second half, though, with Luke Shaw teeing up Juan Mata who unleashed a powerful strike towards goal which Pickford did well to tip over the crossbar.
Pogba was the next to threaten when he broke in down the left channel before sending a low cross/shot past the far post, but United did finally break the deadlock shortly before the hour mark.
Pogba was again involved as he fed the ball to Martial, who curled a pinpoint finish into the top corner from the edge of the box to leave Jordan Pickford no chance.