Sheffield United vs Everton result: Late Gylfi Sigurdsson strike breaks Blades hearts and sends Toffees second

Sheffield United 0-1 Everton: Visitors are now just two points behind leaders and rivals Liverpool

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Everton rose two places up to second in the Premier League and finished in the top four at Christmas for the first time in 16 years after a late Gylfi Sigurdsson strike gave them a 1-0 win at bottom team Sheffield United on Boxing Day.

The result left Everton on 29 points from 15 games, two behind champions, leaders and rivals Liverpool, who are at home to West Brom on Sunday, while the winless Blades stayed rooted to the bottom with two points.

Missing several key players, Everton looked subdued in the first half and nearly fell behind in the 16th minute as Ben Godfrey cleared David McGoldrick's scrambled shot off the line.

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The visitors came close in the 29th when Dominic Calvert-Lewin superbly chested down a long pass by Michael Keane and unleashed a ferocious volley from the edge of the penalty area just wide of the far post.

Oliver Burke slammed a close-range shot from a tight angle across the face of goal at the other end on the stroke of halftime before the game fizzed out in the second half and appeared to be heading for a barren draw.

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Reuters