Gylfi Sigurdsson screamer sees Everton beat Leicester in battle to be 'best of the rest'

Leicester 1-2 Everton: The Iceland international slammed in a goal of the season contender to give the visitors all three points at the King Power

Everton reasserted their credentials as the Premier League’s ‘best of the rest’ as Gylfi Sigurdsson’s magical winner proved enough to see off one of the pretenders to their title.

Marco Silva’s men claimed victory in the East Midlands to return to Merseyside with three points from one of the sides who might legitimately challenge them as the best side outside the powerhouse ‘big six’.

And Sigurdsson’s brilliant strike on 77 minutes upstaged both new England call-up James Maddison and his Leicester team-mate Ricardo Pereira, who had drawn Claude Puel’s men level with a fine goal of his own before half-time.

It showed a ruthless streak in Silva’s men, who took full advantage of Wes Morgan’s second red card of the season for Leicester in the 63rd minute

Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira celebrates scoring his team's first goal (AFP/Getty Images)

The Toffees had led early courtesy of Richarlison’s fourth goal of the season and were good value for their win after a sluggish first-half display from Puel’s side.

With Bournemouth and Wolves also in strong early-season form, the battle for the minor honours and possible European qualification looks set to be fierce.

In only the seventh minute, Everton’s Brazilian forwards combined to give them the lead with the aid of some disjointed defending.

Harry Maguire’s headed clearance went only as far as Bernard wide on the left, he beat Ricardo Pereira and Daniel Amartey before hanging a cross towards the far post

Richarlison celebrates after scoring at the King Power Stadium (Getty)

Maguire and Ben Chilwell both tried and failed to get a touch and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel could only manage an ineffective fingertip, allowing an unmarked Richarlison to side-foot home.

Leicester responded well and they might have levelled on 16 minutes thanks to good play from Chilwell on the overlap.

He delivered a handy cross to the near post but Jamie Vardy did not get enough on his glancing header and it skimmed wide.

Two minutes later more confidence link-up play by Bernard gave a chance to Theo Walcott, who had drifted across the field from his right wing berth.

But his curling shot was pushed over the crossbar by Schmeichel.

Bernard goes close for Everton (Reuters)

Everton continued to dominate and Schmeichel was tested again by a long-range effort from Gylfi Sigurdsson following a run by Walcott, although the stop was routine for the goalkeeper.

Leicester escaped potential punishment on the half-hour when Everton sprung a counter-attack and Walcott went down on the edge of the penalty area after being blocked by Maguire, but referee Andre Marriner waved away the visitors’ claims.

Yet Vardy should have drawn the hosts level 11 minutes before half-time when he outpaced Michael Keane to collect a hopeful ball over the top, only to poke his shot wide.

But shortly before the break the Foxes equalised in style through Pereira.

He picked up the ball just over halfway, beat Jonjoe Kenny and weaved towards goal before curling home a shot via a deflection off Lucas Digne.

And moments later he almost manufactured another goal with a teasing cross for Vardy, whose header was saved by Jordan Pickford.

Sigurdsson scored the winner (REUTERS) (Reuters)

Eleven minutes after half-time Leicester were inches away from claiming the lead through the adventure of Ben Chilwell, who burst forwards from left-back and rode two challenges before curling a right-footed effort just over.

Chilwell was less assured defensively moments later when he allowed Walcott to turn, with Schmeichel forced into a low save.

And on 63 minutes Leicester’s task got harder when Morgan, who had been booked for a first-half challenges, tackled Richarlison from behind and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Everton assault began with a low effort from Sigurdsson that brought a smart save from Schmeichel.

And the Icelander produced his brilliant winner with 13 minutes remaining, starting with a sublime drag-back to take Maddison out of the game and ending with a wicked, dipping, right-footed effort that beat Schmeichel from 25 yards.

Maddison did his best to find an immediate response but he lashed his own long-range effort wide and in the closing minutes, Amartey missed Leicester’s final chance with a glancing header narrowly wide from a Rachid Ghazzal corner.