Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League encounter between Everton and Southampton and Goodison Park. The hosts recently saw their fine run of form come to an end, while the visitors finally ended a poor run of their own, so this should be an intriguing encounter today.

We'll start with a look at our hosts this afternoon, and Robert Martinez will be desperate to show that the loss to Sunderland was simply an anomaly at home for his side. They came so close to going a calendar year unbeaten at home, but a red card for Tim Howard and a subsequent penalty for the Black Cats was all it took to inflict their first home league defeat of 2013.

Despite that result, Everton are still well placed in the table and have enjoyed a brilliant start to life under Martinez. A win today would lift them into the top four, for a couple of hours at least, while a big enough victory could see them climb as high as third. Their position will be affected by Liverpool's match against Chelsea later today, but should the red half of Merseyside lost that game and Everton win this one, then Everton will end the day in the top four.

That shock defeat to Sunderland was Everton's first for 11 matches and only their second of the season overall, which is still a league best. They currently sit just two points off the top four and seven off the lead, a gap that could be cut to four today depending on results elsewhere.

If the Toffees do plan to mix it with the big boys consistently this season, then they will need to improve their goalscoring rate. No side has scored fewer in the top seven of the table so far this season, with Everton finding the net 29 times in 18 games - 25 fewer goals than top scorers Man City.

At the other end of the pitch, however, they certainly don't need help. Everton have the best defensive record in the entire league having conceded just 17 goals in their 18 matches this season. Martinez has brought an attractive brand of football to Goodison Park, but he has also made them very hard to beat, or even score against, which is the sort of balance that every manager looks to find.

I have already mentioned Everton coming agonisingly close to going a calendar year unbeaten at home, but the record is even more impressive if you look further back. The Toffees have lost just three of their last 37 Premier League home games, winning 24 and drawing 10. That is quite a record for the Merseyside club, who have made Goodison Park into a fortress in recent years. The loss to Sunderland was their first at home in any competition this season.

The Toffees have not lost successive league matches since February, and the last time they fell to back-to-back defeats at Goodison Park was back in October 2011, which shows what a big task Southampton face this afternoon. Everton will, however, be without the suspended Tim Howard, who misses just his third game for the club since September 2007.

As for the visitors, they will be hoping to kick on from their 3-0 win over Cardiff on Boxing Day, a result that ultimately spelled the end for Malky Mackay at the Welsh club. It was a much-needed win for Southampton, who had gone six matches without a victory following a very impressive start to the campaign.

A run has seen them slip down to ninth in the Premier League table, seven points behind Everton in fifth. In a league where most teams are packed tightly together, Southampton are a bit on their own in the middle of the table. As things stand, it doesn't look like they will be dragged into the relegation battle but nor does it look like they will push for Europe.

They certainly have the figures to suggest that they should be looking up the table rather than down it. No-one outside the top seven has scored more goals than them this season, with Mauricio Pochettino crafting an impressive attacking unit that comprises of Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Dani Osvaldo.

At the other end of the field, things are looking good for them too. Despite such a torrid run of form of late, only Everton have conceded fewer than Southampton's 18 this season - a tally they share with Chelsea and Arsenal. Both sides have dangerous men up front, however, so despite this being a meeting between the league's two stingiest defences, I'm not expecting a boring 0-0.

Away from home, things haven't gone too well for Southampton of late. The victory over Cardiff in Wales was the first on their travels since September, which incidentally was their last visit to Merseyside as they beat Liverpool 1-0.

That victory against Liverpool was also their only win against a side in the top half of the table this season, which is something that Mauricio Pochettino will need to sort out if he wants to get his side back in the hunt for a European place.

Southampton's 3-0 win over Cardiff also got another monkey off their back as they kept a clean sheet for the first time in six matches. Considering how well they started the season defensively, that was an important rut to get out of for the Saints.

TEAM NEWS: Right, it is about time I brought you some team news! The hosts make five changes, two of which are forced with Howard and Barry both suspended. Southampton, meanwhile, go with Lambert and Rodriguez up front, while Osvaldo does not even make the bench due to injury. Full team news for both sides coming up.

EVERTON STARTING XI: Robles; Baines, Alcaraz, Distin, Coleman; McCarthy, Barkley, Oviedo, Osman; Naismith, Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Springthorpe, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jelavic, Mirallas, Pienaar, Stones

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: K. Davis; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Cork, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Lallana; Rodriguez, Lambert

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Yoshida, Ramírez, Hooiveld, Reed, Gallagher

So, what can we make of those two sides? Well, the first thing to note from Everton's point of view is that Leighton Baines makes his long-awaited return from a toe injury. There is no doubting how important the left-back is to the side, and the fact that they have managed to continue their good form in his absence is a major compliment to the rest of his team.

He, along with Coleman on the other flank, will look to get forward at every available opportunity today, as they always do. In fact, across the defence, Everton have a significant goal threat, with eight of their Premier League strikes coming from defenders this season - more than any other team.

Oviedo, the man who replaced Baines at left-back, moves up the field to his more favoured midfield slot alongside the impressive Ross Barkley, who will look to further enhance his burgeoning reputation this afternoon. Leon Osman is given the captain's armband for today's match, while Kevin Mirallas is only fit enough to make the bench having been a doubt for the game.

Up front, they will always carry a threat in the form of Romelu Lukaku. However, the big Belgian striker has not been at his best recently and has now gone five games - and 451 minutes - without finding the back of the net. The Southampton defence has been very impressive this season so Lukaku will not have an easy time of it today, but with his pace and power he will fancy his chances of scoring in any match.

Speaking of the Southampton defence, they will be keen to make it two clean sheets in a row today, but they will have to overcome a couple of changes to the back line. Dejan Lovren returns to the starting lineup, but he should slot straight back in. The biggest difference comes between the sticks as Kelvin Davis comes in for Gazzaniga, who himself was replacing the injured Artur Boruc. That is an awful lot of change in such a key area, and it could open the door for a lack of communication.

In midfield, the shining light for Southampton so far this season has been Adam Lallana. He has impressed time and time again and is certainly doing himself no harm in his quest to earn a World Cup ticket to Brazil in the summer. I would say that, if the squad was chosen tomorrow, he'd be amongst it. What he needs to do now is keep that good form up for the remainder of the season, which is a lot easier said than done.

Two more men who will hope to be on England's plane to Brazil are Lambert and Rodriguez, who lead the line for the Saints today. Both are in fine form at the moment, with Lambert scoring or assisting nine goals in his last 10 Premier League games. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has scored seven goals in his last 10 league games including five of the last six away from home.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at Goodison Park, which means that it is time for my match prediction! This is quite a tough one to call today as it really depends which Southampton turns up. They have shown that, at their best, they are very hard to beat and can nick a very good, positive result, as they did at Anfield on their last trip to Merseyside. However, they have only just recovered from a six-match winless streak, so their confidence won't be at its highest ebb. Everton are very good at home but fell to a shock defeat here just a couple of days ago, so it also depends on how they bounce back from that. I think they will cancel each other out, so I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

Everton are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches against Southampton, winning three and drawing four of those games. The Saints have also won just one of their 14 visits to Goodison Park in the Premier League era, drawing three and losing the remaining 10.

The Toffees tend to take a while to get into the game, as shown by the fact that they have scored 12 of their last 14 goals in the second half of games. Southampton can be really dangerous if you allow them to get into a good passing rhythm early on, so Everton will want to take control of this one as soon as possible.

There is one more game taking place in the Premier League at the same time as this one, and it sees Newcastle hosting Arsenal at St. James' Park. I will be keeping you up to date with major events as and when they happen in that match, but if you want to follow it live for yourself, just click here to check out our coverage.

A note on the referee today: Mark Clattenburg returns to Merseyside to referee a match for the first time in six years. The last time he was here he oversaw a highly controversial Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool that saw two Toffees sent off. A six-year gap to referee here again is unheard of.

Before kickoff there will be a tribute to all Everton fans who have died in 2013. That is a nice touch from the home side, and everyone inside the stadium is on their feet applauding as the names go across the big screen.

KICKOFF: The fans haven't forgotten about Clattenburg! His name is booed to the rafters by the home fans before he gets the game underway, with Everton kicking us off. We have a very intriguing 90 minutes ahead of us.

The last time these two teams met it ended goalless down in Southampton, but the most recent match here ended 3-1 to Everton.

SAVE! Barkley starts a move in his own half, spinning away from his man and driving forward. He gives the ball out to Coleman before racing into the box for the return ball. Coleman's cross finds the youngster, but his effort is fairly comfortable for Davis to stop low to his left.

Southampton have settled into this one nicely so far. Both teams like to keep the ball for long periods, so it will be interesting to see whether either are able to truly dominate possession this afternoon.

This has been a really strong start from the Saints here. Not many teams can keep the ball away from Everton for so long at Goodison Park, but so far the visitors have seen a lot more of the possession than their hosts.

Just as I say that, Coleman produces a moment of magic to give his side the lead! The full-back cut inside his man and burst into the box before hammering his effort right into the far top corner. Davis didn't have a chance with that one, it was a superb finish from the Everton defender, who really has got an eye for goal this season.

I could watch that goal again and again. Pochettino won't be too happy with his side's defending, allowing Coleman into the box so easily, but take nothing away from the finish. Top corner, top quality.

Southampton will be gutted at having gone behind like that, however. They had started the game really well and kept the hosts quiet. Just a wonderful piece of solo play separates the sides.

Southampton very nearly play the ball through the Everton defence with a slick passing move, but the Everton defence just gets across in time to snuff out the danger. The Saints have responded well to going behind so far.

Cork lifts the ball over the defence for Rodriguez to run on to, but it just skims off the turf and sends the striker further wide than he would have liked. That means he has to cross rather than shoot, and his delivery is comfortably cleared just in front of Lambert.

The Goodison Park crowd rise as one in an appeal for a penalty as Naismith goes down while chasing a long ball forward. It was Lovren who made the challenge, and he certainly did make contact with Naismith, but the Scot was never getting to the ball as it bounced through to the keeper. Correct decision from Clattenburg.

No chances to speak of in the last couple of minutes as both sides are still competing for control of this game. It has been a good, even encounter so far.

I'm surprised that Southampton haven't targeted Alcaraz more so far in this match. The defender is making his competitive home debut today, and a battle against Lambert could make for a very uncomfortable afternoon for him.

Lukaku shows really good strength to shrug off the challenge of Lovren before showcasing his pace to catch the ball before it rolls out for a goal kick. He eventually wins a corner off the backtracking Lovren, but David comes out to claim the resulting cross well.

That is stunning from Lallana. Southampton win the ball back high up the pitch and the England international produces a brilliant back heel to set Lambert free. The linesman's flag prevents a chance for the striker, but it was such a clever ball from Lallana to play him in. The replays also show that it was a very tight offside call.

Shaw goes for goal with very little room to work with on the edge of the box, and it isn't one he will want to see again. He drags his tame effort a long way wide of the post.

Southampton have had plenty of the ball in this opening half an hour, but I can't recall Robles having a save to make. The visitors just can't find a way through the Everton defence at the moment.

There hasn't been much goalmouth action in this game, but it has by no means been a boring match. It is a really intriguing and interesting encounter between two even teams playing some nice football.

Naismith slips the ball through to the overlapping Coleman, who is bombing down the right flank again. This time he is not given such an easy ride, however, and Steven Davis tracks him all the way and forces him behind for a goal kick.

Osman clips a ball forward with the outside of his boot for Naismith, but the Scot just can't get enough on it to steer the ball into the path of Lukaku. That is a shame for the hosts as the Belgian would have been clean through on goal had Naismith made the pass.

Lambert gives the ball away carelessly in midfield and Barkley immediately releases Lukaku down the right channel. Oviedo is completely unmarked in the middle, but Fonte gets across well to block Lukaku's attempted pass. That was a crucial interception.

CHANCE! More superb solo play from Lallana. He flicks the ball up and past Osman and Distin to move into the box, but he then snatches at his shot with only Robles to beat. That was world-class play until the finish, which he should have done better with.

Ward-Prowse finds himself with a bit of time and space on the edge of the box but, with both running out quickly, he slices his half volley harmlessly over the crossbar. Southampton are beginning to have more efforts on goal, though.

One thing that Lukaku has done really well in this first half is run the channels and stretch the Southampton defence. The Belgian hasn't had much of a sniff in front of goal, but his movement off the ball is very good.

Baines whips a fine free kick into the box and Naismith is among the blue shirts attacking it. It is superb defending from Lovren to get it clear under heavy pressure, however.

Distin fails to deal with a ball upfield and that gives Southampton a chance. On his second attempt at a clearance the big centre-back can only nod it down to Lambert on the edge of the box, whose shot is comfortably collected by the keeper.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this half.

Clattenburg blows for the end of the first half, but he had a little flash point to deal with just before that. Distin hammered a clearance right at Lallana, but the two tussled a bit while they looked to win the race to the deflection. They squared up after the altercation, but Lambert was quickly in to break it up, which is lucky for Lallana it must be said! The ref dealt with it well, however, by just calming things down without producing a card.

That really was the only ugly moment of an absorbing half of football. We weren't treated to a huge number of chances or goals, but it was such an even half that, despite the lack of highlights, it didn't get boring. Both sides were looking to plan open and expansive attacking football when they were in possession, and their work off the ball was just as impressive.

The only goal of the game was a special one from Seamus Coleman. The right-back cut inside his man and burst into the area before firing an unstoppable effort right into the top corner. He could not have placed it better, leaving Kelvin Davis with absolutely no chance. It was a stunning strike from a man developing a real eye for goal this season.

Neither keeper has really had too much to do so far this afternoon. Davis was forced into a fairly routine save early on, while Robles made a comfortable stop of his own from Lambert at the end of the half. Southampton's best chance of the match came courtesy of a brilliant piece of skill from Adam Lallana, who flicked the ball past two defenders only to snatch at his shot and send it harmlessly wide with only the keeper to beat.

Apart form being a goal down, Southampton will be quite pleased at their performance so far today. They have held their own against Everton, which not many teams are able to do at Goodison Park. They have certainly had their fair share of possession, but Mauricio Pochettino will be imploring his side to use it better and test the Everton keeper more often. In particular, he may single out Alcaraz as a potential weak link as the debutant has had a relatively easy ride of things so far.

As for Martinez, his comments will largely be the same. He will be the happier manager at the break given the scoreline, but he will still want his side to create more scoring opportunities in the second half. You get the feeling that one goal may not be enough to win this match.

The visitors may not have created as many chances as their 52% possession would suggest, but they don't deserve to be losing this game. It was a very even first half and a draw would be a fair scoreline at this moment in time. Can Southampton get what they deserve in this second half?

KICKOFF: Southampton get the second half underway as they look to find an equaliser in the coming 45 minutes. Can they do it, or will Everton hold out to bounce straight back to winning ways?

CHANCE! Very bright start to this second half from Southampton. Shaw races down the left and can't be caught by the Everton defence. He plays a low pass across the box which looks set for Lallana to stroke in, but the midfielder misses the ball! I think McCarthy may have got the slightest of touches to take it away from the Southampton man and, if so, that is a vital interception from the Everton man.

McCarthy did indeed get a touch to that one, and what a piece of defending that was. Lallana would have had a fairly simple finish without the sliding interception.

Southampton have started the second half much like they did the first, seeing plenty of the ball and putting the Everton defence under plenty of pressure.

YELLOW CARD! Oviedo becomes the first man to go into the book, and he can have no complaints. He went diving into the challenge and there could have been a question whether it deserved a straight red. However, I think a yellow is just about right.

Almost an embarrassing moment for Robles as he tries to be clever by chipping the ball over an onrushing forward. He doesn't put enough on it and gives the ball away, but Barkley is alert and gets back well to win possession back.

CHANCE! Everton are so close to doubling their lead! Lukaku gives the ball out to Oviedo, who produces a few stepovers on the left flank before delivering a low cross into the box. Barkley gets the shot away under good pressure from Lovren, but the youngster's effort bounces less than a foot past the post. That was very close.

Dreadful from Davis. A good corner into the Everton box is only cleared as far as the Southampton midfielder but, with and time and space, he sends what I presume was a cross well over the bar. He seemed to be in two minds whether to cross or shoot then.

Southampton break quickly as the home fans want them to kick the ball out so that Barkley can receive treatment. The visitors are well within their rights to carry on and they do exactly that, but Shaw's low ball towards the near post is cleared off the toes of Lambert.

EVERTON SUB: The first change of the afternoon goes the way of the hosts as Steven Pienaar trots on to replace Oviedo.

YELLOW CARD! Cork becomes the second man in the book for a foul on Ross Barkley. That is as much because of the totting up process as that particular foul.

UPDATE: Arsenal have finally broken the deadlock at St James' Park and they now lead Newcastle 1-0 courtesy of an Olivier Giroud strike.

YELLOW CARD! Lambert goes into the book for a needless act that saw him throw the ball at McCarthy after a small altercation between the two.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: The Saints make their first change of the day as Gaston Ramirez comes on for Cork.

Shaw brings the ball down really well before seeing his shot blocked. It comes back out to Rodriguez, but his effort is deflected a couple of feet wide for a corner. Robles just manages to get a vital hand on the corner before Distin gets in his way when coming to claim another cross, almost allowing Lambert to poke it into the unguarded net.

Southampton have had 53% possession in this second half so far, which is not a figure that Everton usually come up against here. The pressure is starting to build.

My word, what an incredible goal that is! Ramirez picks the ball up from 30 yards out at least and creates space to shoot before absolutely leathering a strike past Robles. There was plenty of power and movement on the ball, but Robles has really got to do better there, it went straight through him! Poor goalkeeping, but what a strike from the Southampton sub.

EVERTON SUB: In the immediate aftermath of the goal, Kevin Mirallas comes on for Osman.

Well, that is how you respond to conceding a goal! Lukaku ends his mini-goal drought in emphatic fashion, slamming an effort past Davis having been set up by a clever pass from McCarthy. Pienaar picked out his midfield partner with a pass and he played it first time to Lukaku, who curled his effort left-footed into the top corner.

YELLOW CARD! McCarthy becomes the latest player to be booked for a mistimed lunging tackle on Rodriguez. No complaints with that one.

Southampton have responded well to that setback, but they have their work cut out trying to get back into this match. Not many teams come to Goodison Park and score two goals.

SHOT! Superb play from Lukaku as recovers from a poor first touch on the edge of the box to produce some dazzling footwork on his way past four defenders. His eventual shot at the end of the move curls over the bar, but that was fine solo play from the big striker.

Davis does really well in midfield to find Ramirez, who in turns gives it on to Lallana. He just delays his pass too long and can't find Rodriguez as Everton manage to clear the danger, but that was another good passage of play from the visitors.

Rodriguez's effort is blocked on the edge of the box and falls to Shaw, who hits a first-time effort comfortably over the bar. He certainly caught it well enough, but he couldn't keep the effort down.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: The visitors bring on young Sam Gallagher for the closing stages of this match. He replaces Ward-Prowse in an attack switch for Southampton.

Lukaku spins away from a man but is then crowded out by three red shirts, who win the ball back in a good area. Lukaku tries to win it back but dives in and gives away a free kick in a good position for Southampton. It is probably just out of shooting range, but they have plenty of dangerous players in the box if they choose to cross it.

The free kick is cleared on the second ball, but Southampton work it back into the middle. Lallana delivers a cross into the box that strikes Alcaraz on the arm, but he was too close for the referee to give a penalty there.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: Chambers goes off to be replaced by Nathaniel Clyne in the visitors' final switch of the match.

YELLOW CARD! Lallana goes into the book for dissent, presumably still from that penalty shout a couple of minutes ago.

SAVE! Mirallas scuffs a shot on the edge of the box but it falls to Lukaku inside the area. The Belgian sweeps it towards the bottom corner, but Davis is down quickly to tip it behind for a corner.

The resulting corner eludes everyone inside the box and breaks to Baines on the edge. You can see the left-back winding himself up for the shot from a long way back, but he hammers his effort well over the bar.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match. Will we see some late drama?

What an entertaining match of football that was. Both sides played their part in a really good game, but ultimately it is Everton who will go away the happier side courtesy of a 2-1 victory and three very hard-earned points to lift them into the top four for a couple of hours at least.

All three goals were very good, with the pick of the bunch being Gaston Ramirez's 30-yard strike to level things up. Coleman had opened the scoring for Everton early on with a fine solo effort before Lukaku scored what proved to be the winner just two minutes after Southampton had equalised with an assured finish from inside the box.

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an absorbing encounter between two of the Premier League's most entertaining sides. Everton return to winning ways at the first time of asking after their shock Boxing Day defeat, while Southampton are unfortunate not to come away from this match with anything. Stick around for our match report, reaction and analysis, all of which will be on the site shortly, and be sure to check out the other live matches we have on offer this afternoon. From me, though, it is goodbye!