Among the flying limbs of Manchester City's away end stood Cole Palmer, throwing himself around in celebration as team-mate Phil Foden slid toward them and cupped his ear with swagger.
Joao Cancelo looked so pumped, eyes bulging while grabbing the club's badge, that he seemed ready to jump in alongside injured academy star Palmer. Saturday night was not pretty City.
This was the 82nd minute of an arduous evening, Foden the fox to Michael Keane's chicken inside a nesting box that Everton had guarded so diligently.
The exaltation in one corner of Goodison Park told the story of this being no routine victory, but one that might feel hugely significant come the end of May.