Everton v Arsenal: Premier League – live! | Football

12 min Everton have had two thirds of the possession, which by my working gives them six-tenths of the law. They haven’t done anything with it yet.

10 min “No Allan, no Gomes,” says Brad Wilson. “Is Davies in that role today? I guess he is next best choice. Holding midfielders have a tough time staying healthy for Everton. Might see Gbamin in 2021 — remember him?”

Nope! Davies is indeed playing in that role. Doucoure has assumed senior status with a couple of lively runs from midfield.

9 min Still nothing much to report, except that Arsenal are cheating. When they have the ball they are playing with a back four; when they lose the ball they are playing with three central defenders and two wing-backs.

7 min “Do you think that ‘tight calf’ (sounds like a farmer left the cider barn door open) of Auba’s is a ruse – rest the chap and let some of the youngsters have a crack at it?” wonders Bill Hargreaves. “If so, I’d support it. This season is all but gone in terms of top four. We can have a go for the big vase in Europe, where the younger fellas are doing a sterling job, and use this year for bringing on the new crop. That said, could we give them Willian and Luiz’s money to get them all to re-sign?”

I think it’s a genuine injury, but now that Christmas has been cancelled I don’t know who or what to believe. I have been surprised how few opportunities the younger players have been given. I’m not convinced by Nketiah, in truth, but I’d like to see more of Smith Rowe and Balogun.

4 min A quiet start to the game. Everton look quite confident, as you’d expect after such a great week.

2 min Arsenal’s formation looks like a back three, with Tierney in the centre and Saka at left wing-back.

There’s a crowd of 2,000 at Goodison, which certainly made a different last weekend against Chelsea. It’s a dank night in Liverpool, perfect weather for a zesty encounter.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is missing for Arsenal with a tight calf, so Eddie Nketiah starts up front. Everton are without the influential Allan, who has a hamstring injury; Tom Davies replaces him.

Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Holgate, Mina, Keane, Godfrey; Doucoure, Davies; Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Olsen, Lossl, Kenny, Nkounkou, Coleman, Branthwaite, Tosun, Bernard, Gordon.

Arsenal (3-4-3) Leno; Holding, David Luiz, Tierney; Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Elneny, Saka; Pepe, Nketiah, Willian.
Substitutes: Runarsson, Bellerin, Cedric, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Willock, Smith Rowe, Lacazette, Martinelli.

Referee Andre Marriner.

The difference a week makes. Seven days ago, London was in tier 2 and Everton were in freefall, their flying start to the season just a kooky detail in another tale of woe. Then they had a good win over and Chelsea, followed by an even better one at Leicester, and now they have the chance to go second in the table by beating Arsenal. We’ll have team news shortly.

Kick off 5.30pm.