Everton and Nottingham Forest gave themselves renewed hope of survival as the Premier League relegation dog-fight witnessed an extraordinary goal-rush on Monday.

Everton ended a 13-match run without an away league victory with a stunning 5-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion to move out of the relegation zone with three games remaining.

Nottingham Forest then sent Southampton to the brink of relegation with a thrilling 4-3 win at the City Ground that also lifted the two-time European champions out of the bottom three.

Earlier, Leicester City were big losers as a 5-3 hammering at Fulham meant they ended the day third from bottom and with games against Liverpool and Newcastle United next they are now in grave danger of sliding out of the top flight.

The 21 goals that hit the net on a manic Bank Holiday Monday was the most ever on a day of three Premier League games.

Everton had managed only 27 goals from 34 games before travelling to Brighton for a match they dared not lose if they were to retain real belief in extending their 69-years stay in the English top flight.

They responded with a stunning display of counter-attacking football to score five times. Abdoulaye Doucoure scored after 34 seconds from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross and another quick Everton break saw Dwight McNeil cross for Doucoure to volley a superb second.

Sean Dyche’s side were three-up in the 35th minute when McNeil’s low cross went in off the foot of Brighton keeper Jason Steele. McNeil added two more after the break either side of Alexis Mac Allister’s effort for the shell-shocked hosts.

Everton with 32 points are in 17th place while Forest moved up to 16th place with 33 points.