Everton have moved just four points from fourth-place Arsenal in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over basement outfit Fulham at Craven Cottage.

An end-to-end opening five minutes brought chances for both sides, with Romelu Lukaku coming close for Everton, before Lewis Holtby fired over the crossbar for the home team.

Fulham continued to threaten and forced another opportunity after 14 minutes when Pajtim Kasami met a flicked header from Brede Hangeland, but somehow the midfielder fired his effort wide from close range.

Kieran Richardson had the best chance of the half on 22 minutes following smart work from Moussa Dembele, but Tim Howard made the save.

Moments later, David Stockdale denied Gerard Deulofeu in similar circumstances down the other end.

Howard was again called into action 15 minutes before the break when Holtby produced a powerful header inside the box, but the American shot-stopper made the stop during an end-to-end period of the match.

Ross Barkley tested Stockdale from outside the box in the latter stages of the first period, but once more the goalkeeper came out on top.

Dembele had a close-range header on the stroke of half time for Fulham, but Howard made the save.

Everton took the lead after 50 minutes when Steven Naismith's low strike took two deflections before nestling into the back of the net off the heel of Stockdale.

The away side had another clear chance on the hour mark when Leighton Baines moved into the Fulham box before driving a low cross towards Lukaku, but the Belgian international could not make contact at the vital moment.

Lukaku had another opportunity after 65 minutes, but once more Stockdale kept his side in the match with a smart save.

Fulham were level after 71 minutes, however, when Ashkan Dejagah thumped a powerful effort into the top corner from outside the box.

The home side responded to noise from the crowd and came close to their second through Kasami and John Heitinga, but Howard twice made fine saves.

Everton regained the lead after 79 minutes, however, when Kevin Mirallas advanced into the Fulham box before finishing into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season.

Naismith came close to Everton's third five minutes from time, but once more Stockdale made a fine save from close range.

Naismith was not to be denied, however, and finished from close range late on. The Scottish international almost scored Everton's fourth in the final minute, but his effort from distance smashed the outside of the post.