Everton vs Chelsea, Premier League live: Latest score and updates from Goodison Park

All the latest from Goodison Park

(AFP)

Everton and Chelsea meet in the second of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Following Liverpool and Arsenal's Christmas cracker on Friday night all eyes are on the blue half of Merseyside this afternoon for what promises to be another entertaining encounter between two of the Premier League's in-form teams.

Everton are renewed under Sam Allardyce and are unbeaten since the former England boss took the reins while Antonio Conte continues to have Chelsea on the coattails of the Manchester clubs in the race for the title.

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Join us for build-up, minute-by-minute coverage and all of the reaction and fallout

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Key Points

• Kick-off at Goodison Park at 12.30
• Follow all the latest updates and analysis
• Both teams looking to continue their good runs of form
• Chelsea without Alvaro Morata through suspension

[23 December 2017 11:00 · Ben Burrows]

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Everton vs Chelsea from Goodison Park.

This one promises to be an entertaining encounter between two of the Premier League's in-form teams.

Keep it here for all the latest build-up, analysis and, of course, that all important team news.

[23 December 2017 11:31 · Ben Burrows]

Team news

Everton: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Jagielka, Martina, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Lennon, Davies, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Williams, Bolasie, Sandro, Niasse, Holgate, Robles, Baningime. 

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Willian, Pedro, Hazard.

Subs: Hudson-Odoi, Caballero, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Zappacosta, Batshuayi, Cahill. 

[23 December 2017 11:35 · Liam Corless]

The scene is set at a very foggy Goodison Park 

[23 December 2017 11:47 · Liam Corless]

Allardyce hails Rooney's influence

Sam Allardyce has praised the impact Wayne Rooney has had on Everton's revival in recent weeks.

"The nicest thing about Wayne Rooney or other players with that quality is you only need to tell them once," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "I think the deeper role suits him. His knowledge, brain and experience allow him to create more than some of the other players we've got on the field.

"Wayne knew he had to be one of the big performers to get us out of the position that we were in."

Rooney misses today's match against Chelsea through illness.

[23 December 2017 11:54 · Liam Corless]

Speedo Mick arrives at Goodison Park ahead of kick-off in just over half-an-hour 

[23 December 2017 12:03 · Liam Corless]

Everton vs Chelsea - last five meetings

• Chelsea 2-1 Everton, Carabao Cup (October 2017)
• Chelsea 2-0 Everton, Premier League (August 2017)
• Everton 0-3 Chelsea, Premier League (April 2017)
• Chelsea 5-0 Everton, Premier League (November 2016)
• Everton 2-0 Chelsea, FA Cup (March 2016)

[23 December 2017 12:07 · Liam Corless]

Pre-match quotes from Antonio Conte

On his decision to start Willian, Pedro and Hazard as Chelsea's front three: "In this moment, this front three is the best option for us. I need to make the best decision for the team. These players are in good form at the moment.

"Alvaro is out and Michy Batshuayi started in midweek and is coming back from an injury. This is the right solution for us at the moment."

On the threat posed by Everton: "Every day I remind my players the difficulties of this league. This season we lost two games against Crystal Palace and West Ham when they were at the bottom of the table. It's important to remember this. Everton are very, very strong. Maybe after the top six they are the seventh best team in the league."

Quotes from Sky Sports

[23 December 2017 12:10 · Liam Corless]

[23 December 2017 12:19 · Liam Corless]

We're just over 10 minutes from kick-off at Goodison. Can Everton produce another big result under Big Sam or will Chelsea get the win they need to draw level on points with Manchester United in second place? Stay tuned to find out!

Fans arrive at the stadium ahead of kick-off 

[23 December 2017 12:24 · Liam Corless]

The Toffees winger hasn't played since suffering a serious knee injury in a match against Manchester United last November.