Good afternoon everyone. Stoke City host Everton at the Britannia Stadium. 2013 was a year of change for both of these clubs but which one can begin 2014 with a victory? I'll be bringing you live text coverage throughout the match.

This season could hardly be going better for Roberto Martinez and his Everton team. They're currently fourth in the Premier League and will put the pressure on the teams around them with a victory today. The Toffees are genuine contenders for a Champions League spot. There can be no doubt about that.

Stoke are certainly an improving team but confidence is low at the Britannia Stadium following convincing defeats to Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in their last two matches. It's a big ask for Mark Hughes and his side to find form against Everton but anything is possible when the Potters are playing at home. We saw that a number of times during the reign of Tony Pulis.

We'll have full team news in a moment but it has been confirmed that Marc Wilson and Glenn Whelan return to the Stoke team after serving their respective bans following red cards against Newcastle.

STOKE: Sorensen, Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters, Walters, N'Zonzi, Adam, Whelan, Assaidi, Crouch

SUBSTITUTES: Butland, Muniesa, Pennant, Palacios, Jones, Arnautovic, Ireland

EVERTON: Howard, Baines, Mirallas, McCarthy, Lukaku, Barry, Barkley, Pienaar, Coleman, Stones, Alcaraz

SUBSTITUTES: Robles, Hibbert, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Osman, Vellios

Whelan's return is certainly a big positive for the home team. Keeping the ball in midfield is a must against an Everton side that can be so dominant in possession. Stephen Ireland drops to the bench to make way for his teammate.

Tim Howard is back for his own suspension to start in goal for Everton. John Stones is handed his first Premier League start by Martinez and Antonio Alcaraz keeps his place in defence for the visitors.

It's definitely not a surprise for me to say that Ross Barkley will surely be the key man in this match today. The youngster has been in stunning form for Everton this season and it looks like his eye-catching performances have caught the eye of Manchester United, who are rumoured to be considering a £50m bid. Barkley has a big future ahead of him for both club and country. Martinez will be desperate to keep him.

Everton have been impressing everyone with their form in this campaign. David Moyes worked wonders with the club but it does seem that Martinez has taken this current group of players to the next level. Many people suggested that the new manager would struggle to introduce his style of play but fourth in the table at the midway stage suggests otherwise.

Hughes is trying to do a similar job at Stoke, with Pulis being heavily criticised for his style of football towards the end of his time at the Britannia Stadium. It's going to take some time but there has been signs that Hughes is making a difference at the club. However, points are the most important thing and two defeats in a row mean that the Potters are desperate for a win.

A worrying statistic for Stoke supporters ahead of this game is that their side have won just two of their previous 16 league meetings with Everton. One of those victories came three years ago today, with the hosts securing a 2-0 success at the start of 2011.

Everton do not travel to the Britannia Stadium with the greatest of records, though. The Toffees have only claimed one league win away to Stoke, with the victory coming in the 2008/09 season as the Potters made their debut in the Premier League.

It's a big day for John Stones, who starts for the first time in the Premier League. There's a lot of hope for the 19-year-old defender and it seems that Martinez trusts him to deliver on the highest level.

PREDICTION: There's just under 20 minutes before kick off, so it's time to have a guess at what the result will be this afternoon. I'd expect Stoke to improve in front of their home supporters but Everton should have enough to claim the victory. 2-1 to the visitors.

The warm-ups are just finishing and the ground is filling up nicely as kick off approaches. As always, there's sure to be a very good atmosphere at the Britannia Stadium.

We've got live coverage of all the Premier League games as 2014 starts with plenty of exciting matches. Click on the game to the right of the page to follow live commentary.

Everton start the day in fourth, just one point ahead of rivals Liverpool. They'll be eager to keep the pressure on the teams close to them with a big away triumph today.

The players are lining up in the tunnel now. Just a few minutes away from the action getting underway at the Britannia Stadium.

Plenty of gloves on show, which tells you just how cold it is today. Thankfully, the weather isn't as bad as it is in other areas of the country today. There has been a lot of games abandoned.

Here we go then. Andre Marriner gets the game underway.

Bright start from the visitors, who have settled into a good passing rhythm. Not much attacking moves from either side yet.

Assaidi breaks free on the left and earns himself some space but a dangerous cross is well cleared by Stones. Good defending from the youngster.

Everton's early spell of possession has been broken by Stoke, who are starting to look dangerous and are asking plenty of questions of the visitors.

Assaidi and Walters are seeing plenty of the ball early on, with Adam looking to target the wings when he is handed possession in midfield. Hughes will be very happy with his side at the moment.

Stoke are gifted possession but Assaidi wastes a good position with a cross too strong for his teammates in the box.

Everton win their first corner of the match and Baines jogs over to whip a dangerous ball into the box. Lukaku and Stones both compete for the ball but Cameron rises highest to clear the danger.

The visitors win another corner and Baines picks out Barry, who heads well over the crossbar on the stretch. No clear chance for either team in the early stages.

The noise level increases inside the ground when Crouch appears to be through on goal but the forward is penalised for a push on Pienaar, who lost the ball and is fortunate to win the free kick.

It's unusual to see Baines waste an opportunity over a set piece but he's left frustrated with himself after striking a free kick over all of his teammates in the box. Everton need to get Barkley involved more to win the battle in midfield.

SAVE! Adam fails to reach the ball when Walters whips in an inviting cross into the box. Assaidi keeps the move alive at the back post but his powerful save is well blocked by Howard.

The atmosphere is electric inside the Britannia Stadium now. Walters delivers another dangerous ball but Crouch can only nod wide from inside the box.

SHOT! Both sides are beginning to look more threatening now. McCarthy earns some space 20 yards from goal but his low effort is easily saved by Sorensen. It's turning into a very good match. Where will the first goal come from?

The lively Walters wins a free kick on the right under a challenge from Baines. Adam curls in a great cross but Walters is adjudged to have strayed offside to meet the ball. Stoke have been very impressive in the first half.

Adam is enjoying a good afternoon. The former Liverpool midfielder is operating in an advances position just behind Crouch, with Walters being pushed out to the right wing.

Baines makes one of his trademark runs down the left and drills in a good cross, which Shawcross does well to clear before Lukaku can get an effort on goal from close range.

Lukaku hasn't seen much of the ball, so he decides to drop much deeper to begin an attacking move. McCarthy and Barkely both make good runs to offer him options but the Belgian forward loses possession at a crucial moment.

Everton are struggling to compete with the hosts this afternoon. Whelan and N'Zonzi are winning everything in midfield, while Adam is looking dangerous when he picks up the ball in the attacking third. Martinez has plenty to think about on the sidelines.

SHOT! Just as I say that Everton are second best, Mirallas nearly opens the scoring with a stunning long range strike. The Belgian collects the ball in space and smashes an excellent strike against the crossbar. That would have been a superb goal.

There's a few moments of concern when Walters limps away from a challenge but it appears that he'll be fine to continue.

CLOSE! Stoke are inches away from taking the lead as Assaidi's deflected effort looks to have beaten Howard but the ball drifts just wide of the post and Everton survive.

The corner that follows Assaidi's effort finds Shawcross but the defender heads a weak effort straight at Howard. Good pressure from Stoke but they need to take full advantage.

Everton are trying to respond by sending more men forward but their final ball has been very poor this afternoon, with Pienaar and Barkley both struggling to make an impact.

Shawcross continues to impress at the back as he makes another crucial interception to keep out a dangerous cross from Baines on the left. Excellent defending.

SHOT! Mirallas uses his pace well to find some space and he pulls the ball back to Barkley, who fires over from the edge of the box. That has to be considered a chance for the visitors.

Everton are fighting back as this first half enters the closing stages. McCarthy and Barry are starting to assert themselves in midfield, which is a good sign for Martinez and his team.

SHOT! Baines wins a free kick 25 yards from goal and most peoples inside the ground are expecting the full-back to unleash a shot. However, it's Mirallas steps up to strike the post with a wonderful effort. Just one minute to be added on.

Stoke have looked the better of side and are impressing with their style of play this afternoon but it's been Everton who have had the better chances. Mirallas has struck the bar and post, with both efforts leaving Sorensen helpless in the goal.

I'd certainly be expecting Everton to improve after the break. Unusually for them, they've been disappointing in possession and Martinez will not be happy. Barkely need to get involved a lot more, while Pienaar's performance hasn't been good enough.

The weather is awful at the Britannia Stadium. Both sets of supporters will be feeling the rain and cold in the stands. It's definitely making the ball zip across the pitch quickly.

Stoke may well regret not creating more chances when they were on top in the first half. Hughes will be eager for his team to continue their impressive display after the break but it's likely to be a lot tougher for the hosts.

Both teams are on their way out at the Britannia Stadium. It looks like Jack Butland is preparing to come on, which means that Sorensen has probably suffered an injury.

The second half gets underway. Butland is on for his Premier League debut to replace Sorensen. Big moment for the young goalkeeper.

The news from the Stoke camp is that Sorensen picked up an Achilles injury in the first half. No chances for either team since the break.

The hosts make the breakthrough! Stoke have been looking lively again and they take the lead. A direct ball causes problems for the visitors and Assaidi gains possession on the edge of the box. The midfielder has time to take a touch before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. Fine strike.

Everton look to respond immediately but a cross from the left is poor as Baines wastes a good position. It's going to be tough for Martinez and his team from here.

Pienaar is gifted some space 25 yards from goal but his disappointing afternoon continues as he fires high over the crossbar while off balance.

Butland is required to make his first save in the Premier League when Lukaku hits a tame shot straight at the goalkeeper from distance. Easy work for the youngster.

SHOT! Very few options for Adam as he advances towards goal and he chooses to test Howard with a powerful shot. The American goalkeeper makes the save with apparent ease.

YELLOW CARD! Shawcross is the first player to receive a caution after he brings down Barry. Mirallas takes the free kick that follows but he fires his shot straight at the wall.

Everton are seeing more of the ball in the second half but they're still struggling to pick the right pass in the final third of the pitch. Surprisingly, Martinez's men seem to be lacking creativity.

Whelan is having a superb game this afternoon. It might not be the most eye-catching display but his accurate passing and ability to break up Everton moves have both been very impressive today. Stoke lead with half an hour remaining.

Everton are putting the pressure on now and the foul count is going up with every passing minute as Stoke look to hold back the visitors.

YELLOW CARD! Whelan has been excellent but he can't avoid a booking for a late challenge on Pienaar.

Adam is agonisingly close to getting through on goal when Crouch flicks the ball on but Barry makes a crucial interception to save his side from falling further behind.

YELLOW CARD! Coleman, who has been quiet today, is challenged by Pieters on the wing. Andre Marriner decides it was a fair tackle and books Mirallas for his protests.

Brilliant work from Wilson in the box to deny Mirallas a goal with a superb block. That's a great piece of defensive work.

Everton win a couple of corners in the space of a minute but Stoke defend well to clear the danger under big pressure from the visitors. Can the home side hang on for a priceless win?

SUBSTITUTIONS: Martinez decides it's time for a change as he sends on Osman and Jelavic to replace McCarthy and Pienaar.

SUBSTITUTION: Walters has looked tired in this second half and he's replaced by Jermaine Pennant for the final 18 minutes.

Stoke appeal for a back pass when Barkley appears to deliberately knock the ball to Howard but Andre Marriner waves away the protests.

Osman links well with Jelavic before playing a through ball towards Lukaku, who can't get there before Butland. Excellent goalkeeping.

Assaidi looks to be the match winner at the Britannia and he almost creates another goal for Crouch, who is surrounded by three defenders inside the box and prevented from unleashing a shot at goal.

SUBSTITUTION: Martinez makes his final change, with Naismith coming on to replace the disappointing Lukaku.

SUBSTITUTION: Adam is given a great reception on his way off following an impressive display. Palacios is his replacement.

Everton appeal optimistically for a penalty when Osman fires a shot at Shawcross but replays prove it was just another good piece of defending, rather than hand ball.

The Stoke supporters have been fantastic this afternoon and they're still urging their team on. It's gone a bit quiet in the last few minutes, which is very good news for Hughes.

Baines wins another free kick when Pennant makes a poor challenge. Mirallas steps up to whip the ball in but his cross is too firm and Stoke survive.

CLOSE! Superb work from Pieters to clear the ball off the line as Naismith looked set to level the scores with a header from close range. Has he earned them victory with that clearance?

Stoke are desperately hanging on now. Everton hit three shots at goal from inside the six yard box but the home defenders make block after block before Butland steps in to collect the ball.

PENALTY! Everton have been given a chance to claim a point. In the first of four added minutes Pennant makes a big mistake by bringing down Osman inside the box. Hughes cannot believe it on the sidelines. Baines will take the penalty.

Was there ever any doubt? Baines calmly strikes the ball into the bottom corner to earn his side a point. Incredible drama at the Britannia Stadium. It's very harsh on Stoke. Pennat picked up a yellow card for his foul on Osman.

Stoke are looking to add to the drama with a late winner but a corner comes to nothing as Everton clear the danger. It looks like both sides will have to settle for a point.

A dramatic end to the match at the Britannia Stadium means both teams start 2014 with a draw. Stoke will look back at this game as a missed opportunity to claim a win over one of the top teams in the Premier League this season. Martinez must be happy just to see his side earn a point on a difficult afternoon.

Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Assaidi looked set to be the match winner but Baines once again delivered from the spot to snatch a point for Everton. I hope you've enjoyed the coverage. Happy New Year and goodbye.