Rejuvenated Southampton moved up to sixth in the Premier League as Everton's unbeaten record was ended by a 2-0 defeat on the south coast on Super Sunday.
James Ward-Prowse found the breakthrough with a crisp finish from Danny Ings' pass (27) before Che Adams' second goal in as many games stretched Southampton's lead (35).
Everton rarely threatened to reach the heights of their season so far as Lucas Digne saw a straight red card for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters (72) to compound a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
Carlo Ancelotti's side missed the chance to reclaim top spot outright but they remain ahead of second-placed Liverpool on goal difference as Saints extended their unbeaten run to four games.
Player ratings
Southampton: McCarthy (6), Walker-Peters (7), Bednarek (8), Vestergaard (8), Bertrand (7), Armstrong (7), Ward-Prowse (7), Romeu (7), Redmond (8), Adams (7), Ings (8).
Subs: Diallo (n/a), N'Lundulu (n/a).
Everton: Pickford (6), Godfrey (5), Mina (6), Keane (6), Digne (4), Doucoure (5), Allan (5), Sigurdsson (5), Rodriguez (6), Calvert-Lewin (6), Iwobi (5).
Subs: Delph (6), Bernard (6), Gordon (6).
Man of the match: Nathan Redmond.
Everton's run comes to juddering halt
Southampton were impressive and deservedly had this game won before Digne's dismissal against a side who hadn't lost since the final day of last season at home to Bournemouth.
The visitors, wearing their seafoam and charcoal third strip, had the chance to reclaim the outright lead at the summit after the defending champions fought back to beat Sheffield United. Sunday marked precisely 12 months to the day since Southampton were hammered 9-0 against Leicester at his ground.
Seven of those who started that rain-soaked night were in the starting XI here, and the hosts had the first opening when Adams was just unable to connect with Nathan Redmond's scuffed shot from Ryan Bertrand's cross after 12 minutes.
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