Afternoon all. So, the turkey has barely had any time to settle and we've got some Premier League football for you to feast upon. Here, we will be covering Everton's home clash with Sunderland at Goodison Park.

Right, before we go any further, let's take a look at the team news, which is starting to filter through. We will begin with the home side and there is a bit of a surprise...

EVERTON XI: Howard; Jagielka, Distin, Oviedo, Coleman; Mirallas, McCarthy, Barry, Osman, Pienaar; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Naismith, Barkley, Stones, Alcaraz

The big news for Everton is that after his match-winning exploits last time out against Swansea City, Ross Barkley has been dropped to the bench by Roberto Martinez, with Leon Osman coming into the side. That is the only change from the victory at the Liberty Stadium, with Bryan Oviedo keeping his place in the absence of Leighton Baines at left-back.

And now for the visiting lineup...

SUNDERLAND XI: Mannone; Celustka, Bardsley, Diakite, Roberge; Cattermole, Ki, Colback, Larsson; Borini, Fletcher

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Dossena, Cabral, Johnson, Altidore, Ba, Giaccherini, Pickford

Steven Fletcher returns up front in place of Jozy Altidore and the Scot will partner Fabio Borini in attack for Sunderland. Elsewhere, the experienced centre-back pairing of Wes Brown and John O'Shea are absent through suspension and injury respectively, which has seen Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge come into the side.

So, the big question is, are Everton genuine title contenders? Well, as we go into this clash, the Toffees are fifth and two points off leaders and rivals Liverpool. Perhaps such a battle is beyond them - the squad is not the biggest after all - but they certainly should be challenging for a place in next season's Champions League.

Here is what their manager Martinez has had to say about his hopes for the remainder of the campaign: "It would be a mistake for us to talk about the end of the season in December. All we want to do is fulfil our potential. I still don't think we have fulfilled our maximum and we will focus on important games coming up in a short period of time.

"You need to get as many points as you can until April. Then you have nine or 10 games left and then it's realistic to speak about what sort of aims you can fight for. We've only had one defeat in 17 games, we got an important win versus Chelsea, we beat Man Utd, we drew against Arsenal and lost against Manchester City so it's an open competition, but it's pointless to look at the table."

And what about the dropping of Barkley? In recent weeks he's been one of Everton's brightest players and capped that off at Swansea at the weekend. You can only imagine that with Southampton to come in three days, Martinez is keen to avoid the youngster from suffering a burnout at this stage of the campaign. What's more, the experience of Osman is not a bad thing to introduce into the team.

As for Sunderland, they've actually been a much tighter defensive unit ever since Gus Poyet took charge. That's going to be tested to the limit today, though, because not only are they up against Romelu Lukaku, as mentioned earlier Brown and O'Shea are both missing. It's going to be a big test for the two replacements.

History is also not on Sunderland's side, it must be said. The Black Cats have not won at Goodison Park since back in November 1996 courtesy of a 3-1 victory. On that occasion, Michael Bridges bagged a brace, while Craig Russell scored the other. On target for Everton was Duncan Ferguson.

Of course, the past match that Everton fans will remember the most is this one from November 2007:

What would a win mean for Sunderland today, then? Despite having started the season very, very badly, they are actually not that far from safety - four points to be precise. Three points today could even lift them off the bottom, providing that other results go their way.

PREDICTION: Right, with 10 minutes to go until we are off and running at Goodison, let's have a go at predicting the outcome from this game. Logic suggests that Everton are going to win this one and it's hard to disagree with that. I'd expect them to have too much for a Sunderland side that have an inexperienced defence and what's more, they've also been struggling for goals up the other end. Let's say 3-0 to the hosts with Lukaku getting two.

Here come the two sets of players and there is a very good atmosphere building inside Goodison Park. Not long now until proceedings get started.

GAME ON! Here we go then, we are underway at Goodison Park. Big 90 minutes ahead for both teams.

It's been a positive start to the match, with Everton in particular looking to be adventurous. Their full-backs - Oviedo and Seamus Coleman - are both keen to get forward whenever possible and are pegging the visitors back in the process.

Sunderland have just enjoyed a spell in possession, with South Korean midfielder Ki at the centre of everything positive that they are doing. Borini is also being greeted with jeers by the home faithful every time that he gets on the ball because of his Liverpool connection - the Italian is on loan at Sunderland from the Reds.

SAVE! First real effort at goal as Oviedo cuts inside and unleashes a swerving shot towards the target from 30 yards out. Vito Mannone has a long time to see the ball and uses that freedom to position himself quickly, before going on to hold the Everton full-back's strike.

Right now, Oviedo is providing Everton's major attacking threat. On this occasion he gets to the left byline and then sends over a dangerous cross, which Diakite hastily clears. The resultant corner is swung over to the back post, but it's just too high for Gareth Barry, who can only head the ball way over the target.

SAVE! Encouraging signs for Sunderland as they call Tim Howard into action for the first time as Borini picks out Jack Colback on the edge of the area with a low pass. The midfielder goes for placement instead of power, but he can only succeed in finding the palms of the Everton goalkeeper.

They may have had more of the possession during the opening 20 minutes or so, but Everton have not created too much with it. At the moment they are lacking a bit of a creative spark - something that the likes of Barkley have provided on a regular basis this term. Credit to Sunderland, though, because they look a well organised team today/

What a shocker from Everton, who have had their goalkeeper Howard sent off. Osman gets caught on the ball and Ki raids into the penalty area. He's one-on-one with Howard and hits the deck after the keeper catches him. Out comes the red card and on comes Robles in place of Osman for his Everton Premier League debut. Ki will take the penalty...

Fantastic penalty from the Sunderland midfielder, who drills the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Robles guessed the right way, but he could get nowhere near it. That's Sunderland's first away goal since August and what a big goal it could be. Everton are down to 10 men and are losing 1-0. It's a test of their character now.

Looking at the replays of that penalty incident, there was not much, if any, contact between Howard and Ki. However, it's clear that it did put the South Korean off balance. What is also telling is the fact that there was no argument from the Everton keeper when the red card was dished out - he knew what was coming.

There has been no change in Everton's style, despite the fact that they are a man light. Both full-backs are pushing forward, perhaps even more often than normal. There is space in behind them to be exploited and that could be a feature of the contest as it progresses.

SAVE! A double stop from Joel, one of which he brought on himself. Ondrej Celustka shoots straight at the stand-in keeper from a narrow angle, which he can't hold. Sebastian Larsson pounces, but Joel is up quickly to block his powerful drive close range. Good stuff from Sunderland, who are passing the ball around very well.

Everton have an issue with Kevin Mirallas. The Belgian has just headed down the tunnel, with the reason not at all obvious! At the moment, the home side are down to nine men!

BOOKING! First yellow of the encounter goes to Everton midfielder Gareth Barry, for a late challenge on Colback. He can have no complaints with that. Meanwhile, Mirallas has just appeared from nowhere and is back on the pitch. No idea what that was all about!

There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

Everton have not lost a Premier League match at Goodison Park this season, but that record is under real threat right now. They trail Sunderland 1-0 and to make matters worse, they've had their goalkeeper dismissed.

Even before Howard was red carded, Everton were poor by their standards. Their passing has been way below what we've come to expect from them, while there is a real lack of creativity in the final third of the pitch. At this rate, it won't be long until Barkley is introduced into the action. The local lad can lift both his team and the supporters, who have been a little flat so far.

As for Poyet, he is bound to be delighted with his Sunderland players. They've dominated the midfield, with Ki in particular passing the ball around the pitch with real ease. Praise should also go to the inexperienced centre-backs, who have put in a scrooge-like performance so far. More of the same will be the order from the Uruguayan manager.

A worrying stat for all connected with Everton:

5 - No Premier League team has conceded more penalties than Everton this season (same as Palace). Oops. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2013

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Sunderland get the second half underway, while Everton have replaced the ill Mirallas with Barkley. It may sound a tad cliche, but the next goal in this match really is vital.

CHANCE! What a huge opportunity for Sunderland to go 2-0 up. Larsson's cross is kept alive by Celustka, who finds Diakite all alone eight yards from goal. The centre-back is lacking composure, though, as he scoops the ball well over the crossbar. Moments later, Fletcher heads straight at Robles. Will Sunderland live to regret those missed chances?

Barkley has already made an impact on proceedings with a couple of positive runs with the ball at his feet. It looks as though Sunderland are going to use Cattermole in a bid to nullify to youngster's threat. That could turn out to be an interesting battle because neither will shun a tackle.

SAVE! Great work from Mannone, who smartly pushes away a powerful header from Phil Jagielka. The rebound falls to Lukaku, but he loses his footing and despite getting in a shot, Mannone is up in time to grab hold of the ball. Everton are starting to impose themselves on this game. It's a storm Sunderland need to weather.

A lot of this game is now being played in the Sunderland half. If anything, it looks like the away side have had a man sent off and not Everton. If this carries on, you'd have to expect the Toffees to find the back of the net.

SAVE! Better from Sunderland, who showed some real patience to carve out an opening for Fletcher. The Scot gets plenty of power behind his shot from 20 yards out, but Robles is behind it and holds at the first attempt.

CHANCE! Barkley really has put some life into this Everton performance. He inherits possession 25 yards from goal and with his first touch opens up enough space for a left footed shot. There is plenty of power behind it, but the ball flies a foot wide of the upright.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the match for Sunderland and it is by no means a negative one. Colack has been replaced by Italian Emanuele Giaccherini, who likes to get forward whenever possible. A sign that Poyet perhaps wants another goal?

A couple more strikes from distance by Barkley and Lukaku, but both efforts fly straight down the throat of Mannone. Like the first half, for all their possession, Everton are not having many shots from inside the Sunderland penalty area.

SAVE! Another strike from 20 yards out and this time it's Oviedo, who stings the palms of Mannone with his right foot. Moments later, Everton boss Martinez makes his final change of the contest as striker Nikica Jelavic replaces Steven Pienaar.

CHANCE! That should be game, set and the match for Sunderland. Fletcher is put through one-on-one with Robles, but his first touch is poor and the ball bobbles up. He still gets a shot away, but the Scot can only drag his effort well wide of the target from 12 yards out. He really looks to be short of confidence right now.

It's a shoot on sight policy from Barkley, but his last one just now must have ended up in row z! It's met with groans by the home fans, who seem to be sensing that their side's unbeaten home record is about to evaporate.

SAVE! What a stop from Mannone, who dives full stretch to palm clear a strike from Barkley from distance. After the resultant corner, it looks as though Jelavic has headed Everton level, but Borini is stood on the line to head clear. Everton are turning the screw now - can they grab an equaliser?

SUBSTITUTION: Another alteration for Sunderland as they look to run the clock down. The disappointing Fletcher takes his leave, with Jozy Altidore coming on in his place.

Everton have three minutes of stoppage time to salvage a share of the spoils.

Everton have a corner and Robles has come up for it...

It comes to nothing and Sunderland have secured a huge three points in their bid to stay in the Premier League. As for Everton, their unbeaten Premier League record at Goodison Park has come to a surprise end.

That's all we have time for from Merseyside. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.