Premier League: Manchester City 1 Everton 2

Manchester City blew the chance to go top of the Premier League as they were beaten 2-1 by Everton at a freezing Eastlands.

Everton were gift-wrapped two early goals and, despite Victor Anichebe being sent off midway through the second half and a Phil Jagielka own goal, they held on for the three points.

Before the game, Carlos Tevez had pledged his future to Manchester City and all seemed set up for a perfect Christmas with a win needed to take over top spot from rivals Manchester United.

But Everton were in the mood to spoil the party and pick up an early present of their own.

City were caught cold in the fourth minute when the ball found its way to an unmarked Seamus Coleman in the box and he pulled it back for Tim Cahill in acres of space at the near post to head home.

Cahill and Pablo Zabaleta clashed heads and with the Argentinean defender off the pitch having stitches, Everton doubled their lead. The ball was worked down the channel where Zabaleta would have been and crossed in for Anichebe, who laid it back for Leighton Baines to curl into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

City finally kicked into gear and Everton had to be at their best to block a series of shots, although one goal-bound effort appeared to strike Phil Neville on the arm.

Aleksandar Kolarov hit two rasping drives at the start of the second half before Everton were reduced to 10 men.

Anichebe, making only his second start of the season, stupidly barged Joe Hart as he tried to charge down his clearance and then clipped Zabaleta, with Louis Saha stripped off to replace the striker.

City were struggling to break down the Toffees but they finally got a goal back with a huge slice of luck in the 73rd minute. Substitute Adam Johnson slipped in Toure but his yanked shot deflected in off Jagielka.

They came close to an equaliser five minutes later when Mario Balotelli beat the offside trap and poked the ball to Tim Howard only for it to come back off the post and the keeper recovered to save at Tevez’s feet.

In injury time, Tevez brought about a brilliant save from Howard before Toure picked up two yellow cards for cynical fouls.