Good afternoon everyone! There is one just match to go before Christmas and supporters across the country will be hoping for three points in their stockings today. Two of those teams looking for a win are Southampton and Everton, who come into the game after very different results last time out.

The Saints come into today's clash after suffering a League Cup exit against Sheffield United. Their quarter-final tie at Bramall Lane was decided by Marc McNulty's scrappy goal and it continued a worrying run of form that has seen them lose their last five games.

It was a much better week for Everton, who halted a four-game winless run to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-1 at Goodison Park on Monday evening. That result lifted them into the top half of the Premier League table and should boost their confidence ahead of the hectic festive schedule.

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Alderweireld, Fonte, Yoshida, Clyne, Reed, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Bertrand, Long, Pelle

EVERTON XI: Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Naismith, Eto'o, Lukaku

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K. Davis, Mane, McCarthy, Targett, McQueen, Seager, Gape

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, McGeady, Kone, Pienaar, Stones, Garbutt, Stones, Alcaraz

So, there we have our lineups for this afternoon's match. For the Saints, Graziano Pelle has passed a fitness test and returns to lead the attack. Steven Davis is also back after recovering from his hamstring injury. There is also a first start for 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Reed.

As for Everton, they have made two changes from the side that beat QPR. Gareth Barry is back from suspension and returns to the midfield, while Samuel Eto'o comes in to join Romelu Lukaku in the attack. Muhamed Besic keeps his place, after an impressive showing last time out.

Well, it certainly has been a month to forget for Southampton. They are yet to win in December and are now on a five-match losing run. Their brilliant early season form seems to have deserted them at such a crucial time and with games coming thick and fast over the next couple of weeks, they will need to find a way to stop this bad patch from ruining all of their good work.

While defeats against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United are not cause for concern, cup exits against League One opposition are far from ideal. Their League Cup defeat against Sheffield United on Tuesday evening was fully deserved and perhaps they should have lost by more than a one-goal margin.

Defeat against the Blades was not the only bad thing to come out of the night. Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama picked up their fifth bookings of the season, so they are suspended for today's match. Florin Gardos is also out after being sent off in the final minute at Bramall Lane.

Even though it has not been going well for the Saints lately, there is plenty for them to cheer. They are fifth in the table and only two points behind West Ham United in the final Champions League position. If they can get their season back on track today then there is no reason why they can't continue their push for European football.

If Everton had not beaten QPR earlier this week then we would have been talking about a slump in form similar to the Saints, but they hit back to move up to 10th in the Premier League. It took them half an hour to break through, but after Ross Barkley fired the ball into the top corner they never looked back and eased to a comfortable win.

The three points were very much needed, as they had lost two of their past three games. It was also vital that they won at home, given that their form at Goodison Park has been patchy this season. As with Southampton, the Toffees are another team that will want to secure a place in Europe for next season and a win today could propel them as high as seventh in the table.

The one bad moment of that win over QPR came in the final minute when Kevin Mirallas was stretchered off. The Belgian winger looked in some discomfort and the initial fears were that he had done some serious damage to his ankle. Thankfully the injury was not as bad as first expected and although he will miss today's match, Roberto Martinez says that he could return on Boxing Day.

I'm sure that Martinez will be hoping that his team can build some momentum as they head into the New Year. After today's match they welcome Stoke City to Goodison, before travelling to Newcastle United. A trip to Hull City awaits them, before three home games in a row against West Ham United (FA Cup), Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion.

Everton have quite a decent head to head record against Southampton, having won 44 and lost 26 of their 91 previous games. Last season it was a win apiece for each side at home, as Everton won 2-1 at Goodison Park, before two own goals from Antolin Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman gifted the Saints a 2-0 win in front of their fans.

PREDICTION: If this game had been taking place a month ago, I would have been confident of a victory for Southampton. However, with the hosts in such poor form, Everton will see this as a chance to grab something from today's match. With the quality of players on show we should be in for a good game, so I'm going to tip it finishing in a 1-1 draw.

The guys down at Sports Mole HQ have previewed today's game, so make sure you take a look at their thoughts here.

Southampton's last five games in all competitions: LLLLL Goals scored: 1 Goals conceded: 8 pic.twitter.com/WJzkeZ4DAi — Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 20, 2014

The teams are both out on the pitch and we are now just a few moments away from the start of the match. Remember that we have live coverage from every Premier League match across the weekend so you can stay up to date with all of the latest action.

KICKOFF! We are underway at St Mary's!

We haven't seen too much action in the opening minutes, but Southampton have made a bright start as they bid to end their losing run. They are making sure they get into Everton quickly and are putting their opponents under a good amount of pressure.

At the moment, Everton are seeing plenty of the ball and they have taken a firm grip on match. It looks like their midfield will be seeing a lot of possession, but we are yet to see a shot on goal from either side.

Well, we've just seen a pretty big call from Jonathan Moss in the opening 10 minutes. Long burst through the midfield and drove towards the box, before appearing to be brought down by Distin. The assistant had his flag up, but the referee waved play on to infuriate the home support.

CHANCE! It's the first big opening of the match and it has fallen to hosts. Clyne does well to get down the right and he looks up to spot Pelle in the midfield. He then stands up a fine cross for the striker, but the Italian ends up putting his header over the bar.

Southampton have really grown into this game over the past few minutes and they are starting to see the ball in some very promising areas. They are enjoying some joy down both flanks and when Bertrand finds some space down the left, he drives in a dangerous low cross that the visitors just about manage to scramble clear.

Neither side has really dominated the opening stages and possession is changing hands quite frequently. At the moment Everton are putting a lot of pressure on the Saints' defence and they have the chance to cause some danger by winning a succession of corners.

SHOT! Everton finally register their first shot on target as Barkley drives through the middle and finds some space on the edge of the box to fire in a low strike, but it is hit straight at the keeper. The fans weren't happy though, as in the build up Eto'o had gone down holding his head, but the referee refused to blow his whistle and stop the play.

Well, there really hasn't been too much to get excited about so far, with only one attempt on goal from each side. It does seem that whoever wins the battle in the heart of the midfield will come out on top and it is still very much there for the taking.

This game has yet to really spark into life and it has been relatively simple for the two defences. Both attacks seem quite blunt at the moment and the likes of Lukaku and Pelle have had limited opportunities to impose themselves on the match.

I just spoke about Lukaku struggling to get into the match, but he has a slight opening here. He is picked out just inside the box by Barry's cross and attempts a spectacular overhead kick, but his effort isn't the best and it goes well wide of the post.

PENALTY APPEAL! I have no idea how Southampton haven't been awarded a penalty. Long latches onto a pass over the top and as he controls the ball he is brought down by a clumsy challenge from Jagielka. There was clear contact and the fans were up in arms, but once again the decision from the referee has gone against them.

Justice has been done as Southampton take the lead moments after being denied a penalty. It comes from a corner, as Ward-Prowse's fine delivery is touched into his own net by the head of Lukaku, after good pressure from Fonte.

CHANCE! The Saints are well on top now and they almost grab a quick second when Bertrand whips a low cross into the middle, that Pelle ends up putting into the side netting.

CHANCE! This must go down as a good chance for a player of Eto'o's calibre. The striker arrives at the front post to meet Coleman's cross from the right, but he puts his header well over the bar.

There are going to be two minutes added on to end of this first half.

It's half time at St Mary's and the hosts have a 1-0 lead thanks to Romelu Lukaku's own goal. It was one of the few pieces of goalmouth action, in a game that has failed to provide too much excitement.

The statistics at half time show that Everton have shaded the possession, with Roberto Martinez's team seeing 56% of the ball. They haven't been able to do much with it, as they have had three shots on goal, with only one finding the target. Meanwhile, Southampton have failed to hit the target with any of their four attempts, but it is they who lead.

3 - The last three goals in the fixture between Southampton and Everton have all been own goals (Alcaraz, Coleman, Lukaku). Gifts. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 20, 2014

What can Everton do to get back into this game? Well, they have Kone available on the bench and you suspect that he will come on if they don't score within the first 15-20 minutes of the second half. McGeady and Pienaar can also add some flair to a team that are lacking ideas at the moment.

PHOTO: #SaintsFC's players celebrate taking a 38th-minute lead over #EFC at St Mary's. pic.twitter.com/Ej8aMEodmK — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 20, 2014

Everton take the kick off and get the match back underway!

The visitors have the first attempt on goal of the second half, but it is not one to remember. Besic works himself some room just outside the box and without any options ahead of him he drives in a strike, but his effort ends up going well wide of the far post.

The pace of the game in this half is already completely different to what was at times a very pedestrian first 45 minutes. There is more urgency in Everton's attack when they come forward, but it is also leaving space open for the Saints to hit them on the break.

One thing that will be frustrating Everton fans is that Barkley hasn't been able to produce the level of display he managed against QPR on Monday. He has probably looked their most dangerous player, but as yet he has struggled to provide that sort of influence in the attack.

Lukaku is another that has struggled to get into the game and so far his only meaningful contribution is to put the ball into his own net. He has shown glimpses of the strength that he has at his disposal and his team will need him to impose himself more in the remainder of this game.

For the first time in this half, Everton are starting to put real pressure on Southampton's defence, with Coleman and Baines getting down their flanks to support the attack. They are still unable to get in behind the defence though, as a couple of dangerous balls into the box are well cleared.

The Saints haven't threatened too much in this half, but they are now two goals up. Clyne whips a great ball in from the right and Long heads the ball down into the path of Pelle, who pokes an effort past Howard from close range. Everton really have it all to do now.

YELLOW CARD! Besic is the first player to be shown a card this afternoon following a foul on Reed.

SAVE! This is a big save from Howard, who has kept Everton in the game. From the free kick that Besic just gave away, Ward-Prowse whips another fine ball into the box that is met by Fonte, but the keeper gets down well to push the ball clear. It really would have been all over had that gone in.

YELLOW CARD! It's Southampton's turn to pick up a card, as Fonte is shown yellow for hacking Barkley down just outside the box. It has given Everton a free kick in a wonderful position and they will be hoping to take full advantage.

The visitors fail to make the most from that set piece, as Barkley fires the ball straight into the wall. It wasn't his best effort and it just hasn't been Everton's afternoon so far.

Everton are seeing plenty of possession as they search for a goal, but they are struggling to get in behind a resolute Southampton defence. They have passed the ball around well, but have lacked a real spark in the final third when it counts.

SAVE! Out of absolutely nothing the visitors almost find the net. Lukaku picks the ball up around 25 yards out from goal and lets fly with a powerful effort, but Forster gets across to tip the ball over.

SUBSTITUTION: Southampton make their first change of the match, with Ward-Prowse heading off to be replaced by Targett.

It's all over now, as Southampton grab their third of the match. Yoshida is the man who scores, as he meets Davis' cross from the left to power in a header from close range. The scoreline may be slightly emphatic, but the hosts have taken their chances today.

SHOT! Barkley hasn't had his best game, but he has looked to make things happen for Everton. He gets another shot away as he powers in a drive from outside the box, but his effort goes straight into the gloves of Forster.

CHANCE! It really should be four for the Saints. A long ball forward is flicked on by Pelle into the path of Bertrand, but the full back ends up poking his effort just wide of the target.

SUBSTITUTION: The Saints make their second change of the match, with youngster Gape coming on for Long.

SHOT! Southampton are finishing very strongly and this afternoon has been vital for them to regain their confidence after that poor run of form. This time Davis lets fly from range, but his strike goes just over the top.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.

It's all over and Southampton have finally ended their poor run of form by beating Everton 3-0 this afternoon. The scoreline may be slightly harsh on the visitors, but there can be no doubts that the Saints were fully deserving of their win.

That just about does it for today's coverage. We'll be bringing you analysis and player ratings of every Premier League match that took place this afternoon so stay tuned for that. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!