PREMIER LEAGUE

DOMINIC Calvert-Lewin was the hero again as Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton continued to climb the Premier League table with a 2-1 win at Newcastle. Calvert-Lewin was the match-winner on Boxing Day as Ancelotti began his Everton reign with a 1-0 victory over Burnley.

And the 22-year-old striker took his season’s goal tally to 10 - the best of his career - with two more at St James’ Park inflicting a third defeat in four games on Steve Bruce’s Newcastle.

Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring after Gylfi Sigurdsson’s blocked free-kick fell into his path in the 13th minute, but Fabian Schar (56) volleyed Newcastle level after being set up by Andy Carroll.

Everton’s winner came in the 64th minute when Calvert-Lewin slotted home from six yards after Richarlison had charged down the right.

Troy Deeney scored twice as 10-man Watford beat Aston Villa 3-0 to maintain their revival under new manager Nigel Pearson.

Deeney put the Hornets ahead three minutes before half-time when Tom Heaton palmed Abdoulaye Doucoure’s drive into his path.

Watford were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Adrian Mariappa brought down Henri Lansbury and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But Deeney converted his third goal in as many games midway through the second half, slotting home from the penalty spot after Douglas Luiz had shoved him over.

Ismaila Sarr’s second goal in three games wrapped up the win four minutes later.

The win moves Watford to within two points of 18th-placed Villa.

Brighton recorded their first home win since November 2 with a convincing 2-0 home victory over struggling Bournemouth.

Iran international Alireza Jahanbakhsh gave the Seagulls a third-minute lead with a powerful shot, his first goal for the club.

VAR ruled out a second-half goal from Dan Burn after the Brighton left-back was judged to be offside by the tightest of margins.

But Brighton’s domination was rewarded 11 minutes from time when Aaron Mooy controlled the ball from Leandro Trossard on his chest and swept home with his right foot.

Southampton and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 at St Mary’s.

Palace were denied an early lead when Max Meyer smashed home only for Wilfried Zaha to be ruled marginally offside by VAR in the build up.

James Tomkins headed Palace in front from a Luka Milivojevic free-kick five minutes after the break.

But Danny Ings levelled with his 12th goal of the season after 74 minutes following a Martin Kelly error.

Tottenham needed a late penalty from Harry Kane to salvage a 2-2 draw at Norwich, who were the latest team to suffer from VAR’s interpretation of the offside law.

Kane struck from the spot in the 83rd minute to deny the Canaries a first Premier League home win since beating Manchester City in September after they led through

Mario Vrancic’s opener and Serge Aurier’s own goal.

It might have been a completely different story had Teemu Pukki’s goal not been marginally ruled out by the perpendicular lines of VAR with Norwich leading 1-0, as the focus again zooms in on the offside law and technology’s role in applying it.

They were fortunate to come up against a Spurs team enduring one of their worst performances of a patchy season, but Jose Mourinho’s men, who had previously levelled through Christian Eriksen, did at least rally for a point thanks to marksman Kane.

Demarai Gray missed a first-half penalty but scored a second-half winner as Leicester piled more pressure on West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini with a 2-1 victory.

Gray, one of nine new faces in a muchchanged Foxes line-up, fluffed the opportunity to open his Premier League goal account for the season from the spot after only 12 minutes.

But the winger made amends after the interval to fire second-placed Leicester to a first league win in four games while inflicting a fourth straight home defeat on woeful West Ham, who have won just twice in 14 matches

The Foxes took the lead through Kelechi Iheanacho’s instinctive close-range header.

West Ham levelled through Pablo Fornals’ precise finish on the cusp of half-time, but they could not build on that in the second half.

Today, runaway leaders Liverpool are at home to Wolves, while Sheffield United travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.