Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash at Goodison Park as Everton take on Southampton. With the international break done and dusted, England's top flight gets back underway this afternoon. Everton are looking to boost their hopes of a top-half finish, while Southampton will be eager to pick up the three points to improve their chances of securing Champions League qualification. Team news will be through shortly.

EVERTON: Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman; Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Barkley, Lennon; Kone

EVERTON SUBS: Joel, Mirallas, Naismith, Besic, Pienaar, Garbutt, Alcaraz

After seeing his side beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road last time out, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has made two changes to his starting lineup as Gareth Barry and Ross Barkley replace Darron Gibson and Romelu Lukaku, who both miss out through injury. Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith are among those on the bench for the hosts.

SOUTHAMPTON: Davis; Bertrand, Fonte, Alderweireld, Clyne; Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Elia; Long, Pelle

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Mane, Tadic, Duricic, Reed, Targett

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has made four changes following his team's 2-0 win over Burnley before the international break. Kelvin Davis replaces Fraser Forster in goal after the England international was ruled out for the rest of the season, while Victor Wanyama, James Ward-Prowse and Eljero Elia are all recalled.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "I think they are going to come to Goodison with a real desire to win, and will have a different approach to the one we saw earlier in the season.

"They're not a team that just wants to keep a clean sheet and then hope to score a goal. They are a team that knows how to defend, and has a terrific record, but which has really strong footballing concepts. They want to get on the ball, they're a very good team in possession, and they have a lot of talent all over the park. What they have been growing over the last two seasons is an incredible work-rate, that is allowing them to build into a very strong side."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "It's a tough test because I think Everton deserve a higher position on the table because I like the way they play football. I like the way how Roberto Martinez is doing his job. They have good individual qualities in the squad but it's a difficult season for them. I think one of the reasons because they play Europa League on Thursday and the risk to have more players injured is there.

"Now I think the team is more confident, but it will be a tough game. It will be a nice one what I said before. I like how they lay, but we play a little bit the same, because the way that we play is about winning and not about controlling and defending. That makes the game a little bit more open than I think what it normally is."

Everton come into this game with a bit of a spring in their step thanks to two wins on the bounce in the league. The Toffees ended a five-match winless run with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United before seeing off QPR last time out. Those two result have pulled them nine points clear of the drop zone and eight points adrift of the top half of the table.

Meanwhile, Southampton are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games, with two wins and a draw making up that run. The Saints also boast the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding just 21 goals and keeping 14 clean sheets so far. However, it will be interesting to see how they cope without Fraser Forster this afternoon. The shotstopper has played a huge part in their impressive form at the back.

PHOTOS: The #SaintsFC players check out the pitch ahead of today's game. pic.twitter.com/En2TYwthDS — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 4, 2015

RECENT FORM:

EVERTON: LDLLWW
SOUTHAMPTON: DLLWDW

UPDATE! The full-time whistle has just gone at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal have seen off Liverpool 4-1. It was a miserable afternoon for Brendan Rodgers's side, who conceded three goals in the first half and ended the game with 10 men following a red card for Emre Can. However, that result is good news for Southampton: they can move above Liverpool and into fifth place if they avoid defeat today.

Got a few minutes to spare before kickoff? Why not check out our video preview of today's game below:

HEAD TO HEAD: It's Everton who have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these sides, winning 40 games compared to 24 for Southampton. They've also played out 18 draws since they first faced each other.

It's been pretty even in recent years when these teams have gone up against each other. They both have two victories apiece in their last six encounters, with the other two games ending all square. However, it was Southampton who triumphed in the reverse fixture earlier this season thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 win at St Mary's Stadium.

One thing which should be expected of this afternoon's match is some good attacking football. Southampton's prowess in the final third is well known, while Everton are more than capable of turning on the style when they want to. That said, Roberto Martinez's side have been dogged by inconsistency this season. The Toffees have drawn a third of their 30 matches during the current Premier League campaign, forcing them down the wrong end of the table.

#SaintsFC boss @RonaldKoeman: "We have eight games left to make it a very special season. We have spoke about it." pic.twitter.com/qvUEUz3p5e — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 4, 2015

Without trying to put any kind of jinx on today's game, there have been eight goals in the last three meetings between Everton and Southampton. Here's hoping for more of cavalier football this afternoon. Just over five minutes until this one gets underway.

The players are starting to line up in the Goodison Park tunnel as we edge closer to kickoff. Phil Jagielka, fresh from England duty, will lead out the hosts. Jose Fonte, who is enjoying a superb season for Southampton, will guide out the visitors.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Southampton to get us underway. Here we go!

It's been a lively start to the game, with both sides showing plenty of attacking intent early on. The hosts carve open a half-chance through Osman, but his effort is easily held by Davis.

OFF THE POST! The visitors come within inches of taking the lead as Long's cross from the right is flicked on at the near post by Pelle, only for Howard to tip it onto the woodwork at full stretch. Good play all round there. It was a clever effort from Pelle, but the Everton goalkeeper did really well to turn it away.

It's Southampton who are still looking like the better side at the moment. Everton are struggling to get on the ball. A neat passing move ends with Clyne whipping in a cross from the right, though Jagielka shows his defensive instincts by clearing the danger. Ronald Koeman will be pleased by what he's seen so far.

A sniff at goal for Everton now as Barkley drags a volley wide after Southampton failed to clear a Baines free kick. That should encourage the home side, who have struggled to get into the game so far.

Everton have looked decent in the last few minutes and they're rewarded with the opening goal of the game! Southampton fail to deal with a Baines corner from the right, allowing Barry to hit a low cross into the box that Jagielka bundles home. Not the cleanest of finishes from the Toffees skipper, but he won't mind a bit.

They took a while to get going, but Everton have shown plenty of confidence in the last five minutes or so. However, Southampton don't look to perturbed by conceding that goal. They're still pushing forward whenever they can.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the afternoon goes the way of Southampton left-back Bertrand for barging Lennon down on the touchline. He'll have the be careful for the rest of the game now.

Half an opening for Everton as Barkley puts in a good cross from the right, but Kone can only head wide with a couple of defenders around him. To be fair to the striker, that was a difficult chance. He really had to bend his neck in order to make a connection.

CHANCE! Southampton come so close to equalising, and what a goal it would have been. Ward-Prowse lines up a free kick from 20 yards following a foul by Stones on Pelle. The midfielder tries to curl the ball into the top corner, but his effort flies an inch or so wide. Howard was rooted to the spot there.

Southampton are pushing really hard for a leveller now. Ward-Prowse is involved again as he has a crack from all of 30 yards, only for Howard to keep his eye on the ball to turn it away. That shot was fizzing all over the place.

There's a few groans of frustration coming from the Everton fans at the moment because the hosts are finding it hard to keep hold of the ball. They keep giving it back to Southampton, who are mounting wave after wave of attack. The Toffees are needing to show lots of discipline at the back.

A bit of a break in play now as Osman stays down following an aerial battle with Long. The Southampton striker steamed into the box there as he tried to get on the end of a corner. However, it looks as if Osman is going to be okay to continue.

CHANCE! Osman is in the thick of the action again as he tries to guide Kone's cross from the right into the net with a diving header, only for the Southampton defence to clear. Plenty of action in this game so far. In fact, it's a surprise that we haven't seen more goals. Both teams are really going for it.

For all of the free-flowing football, this has been a fairly physical match so far. We've already seen quite a few robust challenges, particularly in midfield. Referee Lee Mason hasn't been afraid to blow his whistle either.

The visitors win themselves a corner as Clyne's cross from the right is nodded behind. The full-back ghosted past Barkley there, which might be of some concern for Everton. The first set piece is put behind again by a blue shirt, while the second ends with Wanyama blasting the ball high and wide.

Southampton are in the ascendancy as the first half draws to a close. The away side are spending plenty of time in the Everton half, passing and probing away in search of an equaliser.

There will be at least TWO MINUTES of stoppage time at the end of the half...

The half-time whistle goes, bringing the curtain down on an entertaining opening 45 minutes at Goodison Park. We've seen plenty of chances so far, but it's Everton who lead thanks to Phil Jagielka's strike early on.

Southampton could easily have taken the lead before Jagielka's goal, but Tim Howard did well to tip Graziano Pelle's deft flick onto the woodwork. Despite the home side's lead, it's been a very even game so far. Both teams have pushed forward at every available opportunity and it should be no different after the break.

Here's the moment that Phil Jagielka put Everton ahead on 16 minutes. It was a scrappy goal, but they all count...

© Getty Images

UPDATE! It's been a good afternoon for Everton so far, but it was misery for their local rivals Liverpool earlier as they were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. You can read our match report here.

One area that will concern Roberto Martinez is how often his side gave the ball away towards the end of that half. Everton struggled to contain Southampton, who looked in the ascendancy before the sides went down the tunnel. Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman will be eager to see his players show a bit more penetration in the final third. The visitors have put in some good crosses so far, though they could have more men in the box.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out for the second half, with Everton getting us underway. No changes from either manager during the interval.

Everton have done the majority of the pressing during these opening stages of the second half. The hosts are spreading the ball about well, trying to stretch Southampton down both flanks. Kone has also looked lively up front.

The visitors have asked a couple of questions of the Everton defence in the last few moments, but they're looking a bit toothless in attack. Pelle, who hasn't scored a league goal in 2015, needs to take a leaf out of Shane Long's book and start working a bit harder.

Kone frustrates the Everton fans with a misplaced pass that ruins a swift counter-attack. The striker tries to find Lennon out wide, but he gives the ball straight to Bertrand. The hosts would have been in there had he shown a bit more composure.

Southampton are looking a bit more hungry as we head towards the hour mark. They just need a bit more invention in attack. Could Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane be the men who provide it? They're both stripping off down on the touchline.

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Two changes for the away side now as Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane replace Eljero Elia and James Ward-Prowse. This shake-up in personnel could be just what Southampton need.

Southampton are turning the screw a bit now, forcing Everton further and further back. The visitors are seeing plenty of the ball, though they're still finding it hard to provide that spark up front. That said, they look the more likely to score at the moment.

A bit of an opening for the Saints as Long meets Tadic's corner from the left, but the striker can only nod wide.

There's no doubt that Tadic and Mane have added a bit of zest to Southampton since they came on. The Saints are playing a far more dynamic style now, attacking Everton from central areas rather than relying on crosses from wide positions. The crosses are still coming in, but Pelle and Long are being given more of an opportunity to link up.

PENALTY APPEAL! Southampton want a spot kick as Mane is bundled over in the box by Lennon, but referee Lee Mason waves play on. It would have been harsh on Everton, that's for sure. If anything, that was fair from Lennon.

EVERTON SUBS: The hosts make a couple of changes of their own now as Steven Naismith and Muhamed Besic replace Kone and Barkley respectively. Twenty minutes left to play at Goodison Park.

Roberto Martinez will be worried by how much possession Southampton are enjoying at the moment. The away side are starting to throw everything at the hosts, who are needing to keep focused at the back. Tadic whips a corner in from the right, but the whistle goes for an infringement on Howard by Mane.

CHANCE! Wonderful play from Tadic as he breezes past Coleman on the right before crossing for Pelle. The striker opts to hit the ball first time, only to prod it wide from about 10 yards.

PHOTO: #SaintsFC's @VictorWanyama tussles with Aaron Lennon of @Everton. pic.twitter.com/NVeV85a8ie

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 4, 2015

Everton seem to have come alive in the last few minutes as they take a bit more control of this game. Following that spell of Southampton pressure, the Toffees are trying to take a bit of the sting out of their opponents. It's not a bad tactic as we approach the final 10 minutes at Goodison Park.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: The visitors make their final change of the afternoon as Filip Djuricic takes the place of Alderweireld.

Ronald Koeman is down on the touchline, urging his players to keep going. It's been a good performance from the visitors so far this afternoon, but they haven't made their dominance count up front. Will they pay come the final whistle? They've still got five minutes of normal to get something out of this. Remember, they only need a draw to go above Liverpool and into fifth place in the table.

Southampton are cracking up the pressure even more now. A couple of corners from the right cause Everton problems, but the home side eventually clears the danger. The Everton fans will be biting their fingernails.

There will be FOUR MINUTES of added time. Can Southampton find themselves an equaliser?

It's a scrappy end to the game, with Everton doing their best to waste some time. Meanwhile, Southampton are desperate to get the ball forward. Time is running out for Ronald Koeman's men.

It was a nervy end to the game, but Everton get there in the end. The Toffees give their hopes of a top-half finish a boost thanks to Phil Jagielka's fifth goal of the season. It was an entertaining game between two sides who like to attack, and Southampton may feel unlucky not to have come away with something.

That's all from our live text coverage of today's game, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both teams right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!