After a frustrating end to 2017, the perfect start to the New Year for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United .
Three straight Premier League draws had not only thwarted any remote chance they had of catching runaway leaders Manchester City, but hauled them into a fight to ensure a top-four finish.
Losing a slew of players to injury and suspension further handicapped Mourinho, but his players stepped up here at Goodison Park to prove a timely reminder of their enduring quality.
Everton gave Mourinho’s side a helping hand with an embarrassingly compliant display, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard taking full advantage to secure a much-needed win for the visitors.
Pogba set up both goals, the first for Anthony Martial, the second for Lingard, and played with swaggering assurance after being accused of “strolling” through games by United legend Paul Scholes.
The club's £89million record signing provided the perfect riposte to that accusation, taking control of the game and driving his side to a win that may prove to be the catalyst for an upturn in form.
United arrived on Merseyside without nine first-team players — Ashley Young adding to the eight injured by starting a three-match ban for violent conduct.
Against that backdrop, and without ex-Everton striker and top scorer Romelu Lukaku, left out as a precaution after a nasty clash of heads in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton, Mourinho’s options were restricted.
The first half was played at a pace more akin to a testimonial than a Premier League game, with both sides looking fatigued from the fixture programme.
But after a slow start, United grew in confidence, testing Everton’s defence and making sure England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford stayed on his toes with their constant probing.
They emerged after the break with greater urgency, as Pogba stepped up a gear and finally showed the influence and impact demanded of him by midfield predecessor Scholes.
Juan Mata twice went close to opening the scoring, denied by Pickford and then the frame of the goal, as Mourinho’s side assumed control, with the home side strangely compliant.
Pogba rolled a shot just wide after a one-two with Lingard in the 55th minute, then turned provider for Martial to open the scoring two minutes later.
Mata made a diagonal run, then found Pogba, who picked out Martial, rolling a square ball to his France compatriot just outside the area.
With no-one closing him down, Martial had enough time to compose himself and pick his spot with a clinical finish into the top right corner for his first goal in nine games.
The goal jolted Everton into life, but they simply did not have enough quality going forward to have any chance of plundering an equaliser.
The closest they came was when Oumar Niasse headed wide with 20 minutes to go from a Holgate cross, while Ander Herrera was on hand to block a goalbound shot from Tom Davies.
Lingard sealed the win with a majestic finish nine minutes from time.
Luke Shaw won the ball from an Everton throw, with Pogba picking up the loose ball to feed Lingard.
There was only one thing on his mind as he sidestepped Michael Keane before curling the ball beyond the reach of Pickford for his 10th goal of the season and seventh in nine appearances.
Leaders City may be out of sight, but United still have a top-four place for which to fight, and they will need to maintain this level of performance until the end of the season to achieve that objective.