Phil Jagielka scored the winning goal to keep Everton firmly in the race for a Champions League spot and three points above Aston Villa, who came from a goal down to hammer Newcastle United 4-1 thanks to a John Carew hat-trick.
In the bottom half, Sunderland improved their survival chances with a 2-0 home defeat of fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic while Birmingham City edged out of the bottom three, above Reading, with a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.
Improving Middlesbrough gave a debut to record signing Afonso Alves as they beat Fulham 1-0, the Brazilian coming on as a substitute in the second half.
Tottenham Hotspur beat bottom club Derby County 3-0 while Portsmouth moved into seventh place with a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.
The title race continues on Sunday when Manchester United take on Manchester City and third--placed Chelsea host Liverpool. Leaders Arsenal play Blackburn Rovers on Monday.