Everton passed up the opportunity to move clear of the relegation zone on Wednesday night as they were held by already-relegated Watford at Vicarage Road.
The Toffees came into the match on the back of two consecutive victories and could have established a four-point gap to 18th-placed Leeds United – thumped 3-0 by Chelsea at the same time – with a win over the Hornets.
However, Frank Lampard’s men were wasteful in a match that made pretty turgid viewing. Demarai Gray spurned the away side’s best chance but he poked just wide of the post from close in.
Richarlison forced a brilliant one-handed save from Ben Foster with a deflected effort, but that was the best Everton could muster. For the hosts, Samuel Kalu went closest with a dipping free kick.
The Premier League’s other already-relegated side was also in action on Wednesday night, but there were no points to be had for Norwich as they were put to the sword by Leicester City and Jamie Vardy.
The former England international moved onto 150 career league goals with a brace at the King Power Stadium.
Angus Gunn made an excellent double save to deny James Maddison and Vardy, before stopping the former again later on in the first half. Kasper Schmeichel produced a fine stop of his own at the other end, although Teemu Pukki had a lot of the goal to aim at.
Gunn made another save when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cut the ball back to Ademola Lookman and he hit the target, before Pukki hit the post in a one-on-one situation.
Vardy opened the scoring in the second period with a heavily deflected strike that looped over Gunn before adding a second cleaner finish on his left foot.
The victory was rounded off my Maddison, who hammered a loose ball into the roof of the net against his former employer.
