Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League encounter between Everton and Fulham at Goodison Park. Both sides are at opposite ends of the table but this one may not be as straightforward as it would first appear, so let's take a look at the two teams.

We'll start with the hosts this afternoon, and what a fine season it has been for Everton so far. They started fairly slowly with a couple of draws, but Roberto Martinez soon stamped his own mark on the Toffees and they are now genuine top four contenders this season. If there was any doubt over their credentials, their form over the last few weeks has surely answered those.

Everton are unbeaten in their last eight matches, winning four and drawing four games in that time. That record is impressive enough on its own, but when you consider that the Toffees have taken points off the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and league leaders Arsenal during that spell, it becomes even more remarkable.

Things could have been even better for the Toffees too. They drew 1-1 with the Gunners in their last match, but their performance was something special, dominating the game at the Emirates for large periods. They were unfortunate to come away with just a point, but that is indicative of the only minor criticism that can be levelled at Everton so far this season. They have lost the fewest games in the division, being beaten just once (by Manchester City), but they have drawn too many matches for their liking. On seven occasions, Martinez's side have been forced to share the spoils, which is the highest tally in the league.

Still, their good form has left them very well placed, sitting just one place and one point outside the Champions League spots. A victory today would see them end the afternoon in the top four no matter what happens elsewhere as Liverpool, who currently occupy second place and are two points clear of Everton, don't play until tomorrow.

It is easy to see why they are doing so well when you look at their stats for the season. Including the three goals that Arsenal have conceded against Manchester City in the match that is currently going on between the two teams, no side has let in fewer goals than Everton's 14 so far this season. They have also scored more goals (23) than any team outside the top four, although their tally in that regard is still someway behind those currently in the Champions League places.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Everton's season so far as been their home form. They are unbeaten at Goodison in the league in 2013 and, after today's game just have two more home matches before the year is out. If they remain unbeaten in those three matches then they will complete an unbeaten calendar year at home for the first time since 1962.

That run stretches back 16 Premier League games, with their last home league defeat coming at the hands of Chelsea at the end of December last year. They have also managed nine clean sheets in their last 12 home league games, so Fulham will have to be at their best to even score past the Toffees today, yet alone win.

If Fulham do manage to score first today, Everton won't be panicking too much. The Toffees hold the interesting record of being the only side not to lose a game this season having conceded the first goal. In games where such a scenario has taken place, Everton have drawn three and gone on to win one.

The Cottagers will need Dimitar Berbatov to be firing on all cylinders if they are to come away with anything today, just as the Bulgarian was in Sunday's 2-0 win over Aston Villa. That result was a crucial one for Fulham, who ended a run of six straight Premier League defeats and seven consecutive losses in all competitions. The club has never lost seven top flight games in a row, so Rene Meulensteen's first win in charge helped them avoid an unwanted record.

Despite that important result, Fulham know that they need to back it up with more points if it is to mean anything. Today is a real test for the visitors, who would be happy with anything they can take away from Goodison. A win would lift the Cottagers out of the bottom three as Cardiff and West Brom are playing each other, so we could see them play some attacking football even though they will be up against it for much of the match.

In contrast to Everton, Fulham have drawn just once this season, the joint-fewest in the league with Crystal Palace. That failure to rescue points has left them in 18th place, level with 17th-placed West Ham. The Cottagers have lost 16 of their last 23 Premier League matches, and you feel that they will need to find a way to draw this afternoon if they are to come away with anything as a win seems too unlikely.

This has been Fulham's worst start to a Premier League season in their history, and things don't get much better for them when you look at their prospects today. They have lost all eight of their matches against top-half opposition this season and their away form leaves a lot to be desired.

The Cottagers have lost each of their last four away games in all competitions, including their last three in the league without scoring a goal. If you extend the run back further, they have lost five of their last six away games, with the only exception being that 4-1 victory over fellow strugglers Crystal Palace. In those five defeats, they have failed to score a single goal.

They certainly don't lack experience in their side, however. Their starting XI against Aston Villa was the oldest named in the Premier League this season, with an average age of 31 years and 25 days.

TEAM NEWS: The team news is in for both sides, and it is no surprise to see that Everton have welcomed last week's hero Gerard Deulofeu into the starting lineup along with Leon Osman, who replaces the suspended James McCarthy. Fulham, meanwhile, are unchanged. Full team news for both sides on the way.

EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard; Oviedo, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman; Barry, Osman, Pienaar, Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku

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

FULHAM STARTING XI: Stekelenburg; Riether, Senderos, Hughes, Riise; Parker, Sidwell, Karagounis; Dejagah, Berbatov, Kacaniklic

FULHAM SUBS: Stockdale, Zverotic, Richardson, Kasami, Duff, Ruiz, Bent

So, what can we make of those two sides? Well, there are no real surprises in either teamsheet, with Osman always likely to come in for McCarthy, who is suspended due to picking up five yellow cards. Deulofeu made a big difference when he came on against Arsenal last weekend, scoring the equalising goal, so he has earned his spot in the side for sure.

The hosts are still without Leighton Baines through injury, but Oviedo has filled in admirably for the England international and will look to continue his good recent form today. As I mentioned earlier, the Everton defence is now the stingiest in the league, and a lot of that is down to the fine form of Distin, Jagielka and Coleman, not to mention Tim Howard between the sticks. Fulham will have their work cut out breaking down that defence today.

In midfield, Barkley will be looking to continue his progress after a superb display against Arsenal. He is a real prospect for the future and his current form is certainly putting him in with a shout of a World Cup place next year. Alongside him, Barry has been a very shrewd loan signing, just the type of player that Everton needed. He still has an outside chance of being on the plane to Brazil if he keeps up his good form, although you'd have to say that there were quite a few central midfielders above him in the pecking order at the moment.

The hosts' main threat comes in the form of Romelu Lukaku up front. The big Belgian has been unstoppable at times this season and he will be licking his lips at taking on a Fulham defence minus Brede Hangeland. Lukaku has scored three goals in his last two games and has also found the net five times in his last five matches at Goodison. He will take some stopping this evening.

Fulham's main man is also up front, but he comes in the rather more eccentric shape of Dimitar Berbatov. The striker can be utterly brilliant on his day, and I can't think of many players in world football with a better first touch than the Bulgarian, but too often this season he has not lived up to expectations. His lack of tracking back can be excused if he is doing the business up front, but he becomes a liability when he isn't. However, his fine display against Villa in their last outing may hint at a good spell of form coming up.

The midfield of Parker, Sidwell and Karagounis played very well against Villa, and they could be the key again today. If they can stop Barkley and the clever runs and passes of Osman, then they will also cut off the supply chain to Lukaku, which will go a long way to stopping Everton as a whole.

It's no real surprise to see Darren Bent on the bench either, with the striker just coming back from a slight hamstring problem. Meulensteen was always likely to go for one striker today with Everton expected to dominate possession and Fulham likely to be defending for large periods of the match.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Goodison Park, so it is about time I made my prediction for the game! I simply can't see Fulham scoring in this match, yet alone winning it. Everton are in fine form and have taken points off some of the league's top teams in recent weeks and, despite Fulham's good performance against Villa, I think Everton will simply be too good for Meulensteen's side. I'll go for a 2-0 home win with Lukaku scoring the opener.

Fulham will take heart from the fact that they have already beaten Everton this season, knocking the Toffees out of the League Cup at Craven Cottage, but their record here at Goodison Park is nothing short of abysmal. In 25 visits they have drawn four times and lost the remaining 21. Even worse, those four draws came in the first five matches, meaning they have lost 20 games on the bounce at Goodison Park - the longest run of home wins by any team against any one opponent in the history of English football.

During that spell of 20 straight defeats, Fulham have managed just 10 goals while Everton have scored 51 times. The Cottagers' last win at Goodison Park was a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup fifth round way back in February 1975.

There are plenty more live fixtures on offer for you this afternoon, and you can find them by clicking here. I will also be keeping you up to date with major events as and when they happen on a day that has already seen Man City thrash league leaders Arsenal 6-3 at the Etihad.

The players are out and just about ready to go on Merseyside as Everton look to continue their fine recent form. Three points would be very valuable to both sides, but for very different reasons.

KICKOFF: Fulham get us underway at Goodison Park at they look to put an end to their terrible winless record at Goodison Park in the league. Can they pull off another shock in a season that has already seen so many?

Everton have made a very bright start here, already showing their fluid passing to create a good attack that eventually saw Deulofeu win a corner that came to nothing. Fulham need to stop the hosts getting into their rhythm early on here.

Fulham have done exactly that. The visitors are enjoying a really good spell of possession at the moment and, while they aren't exactly going anywhere with the ball, it will give them confidence to be stroking the ball about so comfortably at a ground where Everton usually dominate play.

After one bright move early on, Everton have since struggled to really get hold of the ball in the last five minutes or so. Fulham are doing a good job of stifling the hosts so far, but it is still very early days. It is a big ask for them to keep it up for the whole match.

Fulham break quickly and a better pass from Kacaniklic would have seen Dejagah clean through on goal. However, the pass, which wasn't all that tough to pull off, was overhit and ran through to Howard. That is a missed opportunity for the visitors.

Fulham will be very pleased by their start to this match so far, and even better for them is that Berbatov looks to be in his dangerous mood. He hasn't done anything particularly special yet, but a few nice touches have set teammates free momentarily and his is actively looking to get involved in the match.

Everton, uncharacteristically, are giving the ball away too cheaply at the moment. They haven't been punishment so far but their ball retention and general play has been a lot worse than it was a week ago at Arsenal.

CHANCE! The first chance of the day falls Everton's way as Jagielka rises highest inside the box to glance a header towards the far corner. Osman almost gets a touch on the way through but just misses it as it goes a yard or so wide. That was a decent opening and Jagielka perhaps should have done better.

At the other end Fulham win a corner of their own but Kacaniklic's delivery is far too long and Sidwell can't keep it in at the far post. The game is starting to fall into a more familiar pattern now with Everton starting to see more of the ball and Fulham dropping deep to defend in numbers.

Silly play from Stekelenburg as he concedes a corner while trying to keep Barkley's header in play. The young midfielder's effort from Coleman's cross was sailing harmlessly out, but the Fulham keeper tried to keep it in play for some reason and only succeeded in handing Everton a chance.

That is a lovely goal from Osman. He picks up the ball on the edge of the box and fakes a pass out wide to beat a defender. He then calmly curls it with his left foot into the corner and past the despairing dive of Stekelenburg. That was such a classy goal, complete with lovely footwork and as cool a finish as you will see.

CLOSE! Everton are in full flow now. They attack down the right through Deulofeu, who cuts inside before fizzing a low cross/shot right across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post. Lukaku was in the immediate vicinity but the ball was too far in front of the striker.

Nice football from Everton as the ball is played long up to Lukaku, who produces a fine first-time lay off to Barkley. The midfielder waits for the ball to drop so that he can volley it, but Karagounis nips in to steal it just in time. It only falls to Deulofeu, who goes for an ambitious chip but sends it harmlessly over the bar.

CHANCE! Stekelenburg makes a fine save to deny Lukaku from close range. A corner was swung into the area and flicked on at the near post by Barry. Lukaku didn't know much about it as it just hit him on the chest, forcing the Fulham keeper to change direction quickly and get down really well to make a superb reaction stop.

Everton are really on top now. They weren't at their free-flowing best at the start of this match but the goal has really sparked them into life. If they can keep this pressure up then I would be surprised if it stays 1-0 for much longer.

Berbatov gives the ball away and Everton immediately launch a break. Barkley plays it out to Deulofeu who, as ever, only has one thing in his mind. He creates space to shoot from a tight angle but can only fire his effort over the top.

Deulofeu again finds space on the right and this time he looks for a teammate in the middle. He plays a really clever low pass in between the defence and the keeper, but it is just too far in front of Lukaku while there are no blue shirts coming in at the far post.

SAVE! Stekelenburg is called into action again as he denies Coleman from the edge of the box. Both sides made mistakes in the build-up but it was the hosts who ultimately benefited, with the ball finding it's way to the full-back, whose low shot was heading for the bottom right corner before Stekelenburg's intervention.

Lukaku is released down the channel by a lovely pass and the striker shows great strength and pace to latch on to the ball and run through on goal. He has Osman in the middle and tries to find the goalscorer, but his pass deflects off a Fulham man and the danger is cleared.

CLOSE! Osman is so close to getting a spectacular second! Pienaar played the ball into Barkley, whose shot on the turn was very well blocked by Hughes. The ball dropped perfectly for Osman on the edge of the box, but his perfectly-executed flies just past the post.

CLOSE! At the other end Fulham have their best moment of the match, and it isn't too dissimilar to that Osman shot moments ago. Another cross into the box draws a deflected shot that falls to Karagounis, who flashes his volley just wide from a more acute angle than Osman's.

UPDATE: Chelsea took the lead against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge through Fernando Torres, before Chamakh found an equaliser for the Eagles. Ramires has since restored the Blues' lead, however, at it is now 2-1 in West London. Elsewhere, Yoann Gouffran has made it 1-0 to Newcastle at home to Southampton.

Fulham have all 11 players deep inside their own half at the moment as Everton continue to apply the pressure. At the moment you get the feeling that Rene Meulensteen would be quite happy to go into the break just 1-0 down.

Deulofeu fizzes a dangerous cross into the near post where Lukaku is attacking. Stekelenburg has to be brave to throw himself at the ball with the big Belgian bearing down on him, but he gets a good connection with his punch to concede a corner.

Karagounis sends a tricky pass back to Senderos, who has to show good composure to deal with it with two Everton men hunting him down. He won't be thanking the Greek midfielder for that one but he dealt with it well.

The fourth official indicates a minimum of just one minute added time at the end of this half.

Fulham have one last chance to launch the ball into the area with a free kick and the delivery is cleared only as far as Sidwell on the edge of the box. However, the midfielder rushes his shot and sends it high and wide into the stands. That'll be that for the first half.

The referee does indeed brings an end to the first half, and it is a 45 minutes that both sides will be quite content with. Everton will, of course, go into the break the happier team as they have the lead, but Fulham will be pleased with their performance on the whole so far and they are still very much in this game.

The only goal of the game so far came courtesy of Leon Osman in the 19th minute, and it oozed class from the veteran Everton midfielder. He was given the ball by Pienaar on the edge of the box before working space to shoot with some good footwork and stroking his effort past Stekelenburg.

Everton were on top for the vast majority of the first half after a decent start from Fulham. It took the goal for the hosts to really get playing, but they stepped up a gear in the immediate aftermath, which is why Fulham will be happy enough with only being a goal down at the break. Deulofeu has been particularly dangerous on the right flank, although he needs to improve his final product if he is to make a real difference in this game.

As for Fulham, they will have been very happy with the start they made to the match. Meulensteen's side had more of the ball in the opening stages and stopped the hosts from dominating the game like they usually do. They were forced to drop back more and defend as Everton started to take the game to them, but they have had moments to suggest that they could grab an equaliser as long as they stay within one goal.

Stekelenburg has been forced into a couple of fine saves to keep it at 1-0, the best of which came when the ball deflected off an unaware Lukaku and towards the bottom corner. The Fulham keeper had to change direction and get down quickly to make a really good reaction stop. Coleman has also tested the keeper, while Osman saw a superb volley flash just past the post.

Fulham's best moment of the match came shortly after that Osman effort with a volley of their own as Karagounis flashed his shot just past the post. They haven't tested Howard yet, though. which is something that their will need to change in the second half if they are to get themselves back into the match.

The Fulham players have been sent back onto the pitch early and are now being joined by the hosts ahead of the second half. Can the visitors get back into the match and come away with an unlikely point?

KICKOFF: Everton get us back underway for the second half as they look to hold out for a win that would see them move into the top four, at least until tomorrow.

GREAT SAVE! Howard hasn't had anything to do all day but makes a fine save when he is eventually called upon. Osman doesn't get out of Jagielka's way when trying to clear a high ball, resulting in the defender botching his clearance straight to Parker. The Fulham man takes a touch before flicking his effort goalwards with the outside of his boot, drawing a full-stretch stop from Howard.

CHANCE! Oh what a chance that is for Fulham to level things up! Sidwell fired a low shot towards goal from the edge of the box that Howard could only parry straight to Kacaniklic. The Fulham man has time and space with the rebound, but he blazes an absolute sitter well over the bar from eight yards out. It really should be 1-1.

Fulham have really come out firing in this second half. They have had two good chances already and Howard has been busier in the last five minutes than he was in the first 45. Meulensteen will be delighted with the way his side have started this half but still wondering how they aren't level after that Kacaniklic miss.

Sidwell is again given space to pick up the ball and drive into the Everton half. He chooses to go for goal once more, but this time slices his effort wide of the post.

This is so much better from the visitors. Everton are struggling to deal with them at the start of this second half and can't string together a good spell of possession. Can the visitors take advantage of this good start?

Better from the hosts as Deulofeu again finds space down the right before fizzing a low ball into the middle. Hughes is there before Lukaku, and the defender's sliced clearance flies just past his own post for a corner.

OFF THE LINE! Everton have responded will to Fulham's strong start and would be 2-0 up but for a clearance off the line. It was Oviedo's deflected strike that almost found its way into the far corner, but Riether was in the right place at the right time to nod it away.

This match is very nicely poised at the moment. Fulham are holding their own and will still fancy their chances of coming away from Merseyside with something this afternoon, while Everton are always looking dangerous on that right wing with Deulofeu.

CHANCE! That is a big chance for Fulham, and they wouldn't have wanted it to fall to anyone else. Riether bends a lovely cross to the back post and Berbatov has peeled off his man to find space. He is at a tight angle but not far from goal and he should really hit the target, but he can only plant his effort into the side netting.

Osman gets on the end of a cross but can't direct his header goalwards. More worryingly for Everton, Deulofeu pulled up in the build-up to that goal and looks to have pulled his hamstring. He won't be able to continue here, and it looks like the type of injury that could keep him out for a few weeks.

EVERTON SUB: Deulofeu is stretchered off, which is not a sight that Everton fans will be happy to see. He is replaced by Kevin Mirallas, who makes his 50th appearance for the Toffees.

UPDATE: Cardiff have taken the lead against West Brom through Peter Whittingham, while Jay Rodriguez has equalised for Southampton against Newcastle.

Berbatov levels the scores with a carbon copy of the penalty he scored against Aston Villa last weekend. It is cool as you like from the Bulgarian, but the actual award of the spot kick was fairly controversial. There was definite contact from Barry on Kacaniklic and the Everton man was the wrong side of the Fulham midfielder, but he did get the ball. Anthony Taylor waited a long time to make the decision before eventually pointing at the spot. In truth, it could have gone either way.

FULHAM SUB: Winning that penalty proves to be Kacaniklic's final action of the match as he is replaced by Kasami in Fulham's first change of the afternoon.

YELLOW CARD! Dejagah becomes the first player to go into the book for a cynical foul on Jagielka that stopped Everton launching an attack. He can have no complaints with that one.

Everton have been far from their best in this second half and Fulham deserved that equaliser on the balance of things. The way the two sides are playing at the moment, it isn't unrealistic that Fulham would go on to win this match, which would be a major shock given their abysmal record at Goodison Park and Everton's unbeaten record here in 2013.

YELLOW CARD! Pienaar becomes the first Everton player and the second man overall to go into Anthony Taylor's notebook this afternoon.

That goal has changed things in a similar way to how the first goal did. The hosts are now looking more confident and passing the ball around nicely while before that strike they struggled to string six or seven passes together.

FULHAM SUB: Attacking change from the visitors as Darren Bent comes on to replace Karagounis, who at 78 minutes has lasted longer than he usually does. Fulham are going for this one, which is good to see.

Fulham have just 10 minutes to find an equaliser here. They are still in this match and Everton's second goal doesn't seem to have dampened their spirits too much, but time is beginning to run out for Meulensteen's side.

The hosts may be winning this one, but they have been nowhere near their best. They have played wayward passes far too often, and the majority of the time they have been simple, four-yard ones that have gone astray.

FULHAM SUB: Fulham make their final change of the afternoon as Dejagah makes way for Damien Duff, who is making his 600th senior appearance.

It is not a pretty goal by any means but Everton won't care. Distin nods a corner goalwards that strikes Lukaku, seemingly on the arm, on its way through. Stekelenburg makes a fine initial stop but it bounces back to Lukaku, whose poke towards goal is nodded in at the back post from a yard out by Barry.

There is plenty of controversy surrounding that goal. The first question surrounds Lukaku's handball while Barry may also have been slightly offside when he turned it in. Still, there were no complaints from Fulham on either call.

EVERTON SUB: The hosts make a late change as young John Stone replaces Pienaar for the final few minutes.

YELLOW CARD! Senderos goes into the book for a poor challenge on Mirallas. The Belgian just nicked it away from the defender to set up an attack for Everton, which eventually came to nothing when Oviedo's shot was blocked. The ref played advantage before pulling play back for the yellow.

There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.

There is the icing on the cake as Everton make a quick break upfield with Mirallas leading the charge. The sub picks the ball up on the left before cutting inside and fizzing his shot past Stekelenburg, who really should have done better.

The 4-1 scoreline is harsh on Fulham it must be said, but Everton have managed to dig out a win when they haven't been at their best, which is the sign of a top team. They'll be in the top four at the end of play tonight.

Duff looks to give Fulham fans something more to smile about as he cuts inside from the left and lets fly from range, but his effort swings well wide.

Everton's unstoppable form at Goodison Park continues with what looks like a comfortable win from the scoreline, but was far from it in reality. Fulham pushed them hard, but the hosts got three goals in the final 20 minutes to give them yet another victory, extending their unbeaten streak to nine matches and moving them into the Champions League places.

As for Fulham, it may seem hard to take many positives from a 4-1 defeat, but there were plenty on show this afternoon. They were the better side for most of the second half and the scoreline doesn't accurately reflect how the match went. If they play like that against teams in and around the relegation zone, where they currently reside, then they will win more often than not. Still, to play well and still concede four goals must hurt Rene Meulensteen.

Right, that's all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a highly-entertaining match between Everton and Fulham. The Toffees are still on course to end 2013 unbeaten at Goodison Park following a flattering 4-1 victory over struggling Fulham. I will leave you with our match report and be sure to stick around for reaction and analysis, which will be on site shortly. If it is more live football you are after, Hull vs. Stoke kicks off in half an hour, and you can follow that live with us here. From me, though, it is goodbye!