Middlesbrough took an early lead against Everton but were eventually on the end of a 3-1 defeat at Goodison Park.
The Teessiders went in front midway through the opening half with an own-goal from home keeper Maarten Stekelenburg under challenge from Alvaro Negredo.
But Gareth Barry swiftly levelled on his 600th top-flight appearance from Kevin Mirallas’ corner before Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku added further goals prior to the interval.
Negredo was comfortably wide of the mark early on, while Gaston Ramirez delivered a dangerous free-kick during a bright start in which Victor Valdes was called upon by both Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas at the other end.
And Boro were ahead when George Friend’s cross produced a mistake from keeper Stekelenburg with Negredo in close attendance.
Three minutes later, Barry swept home an equaliser after keeper Valdes was caught out at a corner
Then just before the interval right-back Coleman surged into the box and evaded Daniel Ayala before finishing low.
Still enough time remained, however, for a third goal for the hosts when Lukaku guided Yannick Bolasie’s delivery past Valdes.
Barkley was proving an effective force for the Toffees and produced a low stop from Valdes following the break while Mirallas also went close.
The visitors tried to rally but were largely restricted to a couple of blocked efforts from Stewart Downing and Viktor Fischer on their way to successive league defeats.
Everton: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines, Gueye, Barry (Cleverley 90), Mirallas (Deulofeu 72), Barkley, Bolasie, R. Lukaku (E. Valencia 66)
subs (unused): Robles, Lennon, Funes Mori, Holgate
Goals: Barry (24), Coleman (42), R. Lukaku (45)
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, de Roon, Forshaw (Clayton 84), Nsue Lopez (Nugent 59), Ramirez (Fischer 70), Downing, Negredo
subs (unused): Espinosa, Guzan, Chambers, Traore
Goals: Stekelenburg OG (21)
Ref: L. Mason
Att: 39,074
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