Manchester City came away from Goodison Park with a 3-2 win over Everton to go top of the league for at least 24 hours and also end Everton’s hopes of clinching fourth spot and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Those hopes had been raised when Everton took the lead after 12 minutes through youngster Ross Barkley’s scorching effort but goals from Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko put Man. City 2-1 up going into the break.

Džeko then scored his second of the day to put the visitors 3-1 up three mi utes into the second half before Romelo Lukaku pulled one back for Everton to set up a tense finish which City saw out to claim only a second league win at Everton in 20 years.

Man. City now have 80 points from 36 matches, ahead of Liverpool – that visit mid-table Crystal Palace on Monday – on goal difference while Chelsea is third with 78 points and host relegation threatened Norwich City on Sunday.

A win for City in their last two matches will however secure a second league title in three seasons, unless Liverpool that has a +50 goal difference win their remaining two matches and finish the season with a better goal difference than City that has a +59 goal difference at the moment.