The accused beat the convicted at Goodison Park on Wednesday night when a team facing 115 Premier League charges beat a side that was deducted 10 points last month with a crucial goal that brought forth another deluge of fury and consternation about the handball rule. In the circumstances, it felt like it was a fitting way for the game to be decided.
In the midst of the furore about the events that led to Julian Alvarez blasting home the second half penalty that was the critical moment in this match, Manchester City re-ignited a title challenge that had unexpectedly hit the skids by drawing a line under a mystifyingly poor run of form that had seen them slip away from the summit of the table.