Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the League Cup tie between Fulham and Everton, two sides who haven't had the best of fortunes in this competition in recent seasons. There's just under an hour to go until kickoff, but we'll have team news and build-up for you until then.

Both sides struggled with lower-league opposition in the previous round. Everton needed a stoppage-time strike from the now-departed Marouane Fellaini to see off League One Stevenage, while Fulham were taken to penalties by League Two Burton Albion.

The starting XIs are in...

FULHAM: Stockdale; Zverotic, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Taarabt, Karagounis, Parker, Kacaniklic; Kasami; Berbatov

EVERTON: Robles, Gibson, Heitinga, Oviedo, Deulofeu, Naismith, Distin, McCarthy, Lukaku, Coleman, Stones

Plenty to digest there. Dimitar Berbatov makes a return from injury to strike fear into the heart of the Everton defence, while Everton boss Roberto Martinez has handed starts to summer signings Romelu Lukaku and James McCarthy after they impressed as substitutes against West Ham United last weekend.

Martinez is taking the opportunity to give youth a chance this evening, with young Spanish keeper Joel Robles selected over Tim Howard and England Under-21 international John Stones lining up at the back. Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu is one to watch following his stand-out performance against Stevenage.

Here is the view of Craven Cottage ahead of kickoff courtesy of Everton's Twitter account. It has filled up a bit since that was taken.

There'll be over 3,000 Evertonians in this stand at kickoff. Outstanding support once again. #EFCFFC pic.twitter.com/XbfCggp4WW — Official Everton (@Everton) September 24, 2013

Everton have quite the record to defend tonight. Not only are they the only unbeaten side in English football, they haven't lost to Fulham in their last eight clashes, winning six and drawing two.

Fulham, on the other hand, have not progressed beyond this stage of the competition since 2004 and have not won at Craven Cottage since April. All of these factors make Everton the favourites tonight, but it's a relatively inexperienced side that Martinez has put out.

No doubt Fulham were hoping that Bryan Ruiz would have returned from injury this evening. He has scored against Everton in their last two visits to Craven Cottage. Aaron Hughes also failed a fitness test ahead of kickoff.

BENCH WATCH: Both sides are packing heavy firepower on the subs' bench this evening. Fulham have the likes of Darren Bent, Hugo Rodallega and Steve Sidwell to make an impact if needed.

Meanwhile, Everton could call on Nikica Jelavic, Kevin Mirallas or even Leighton Baines for his abilities from set pieces. If you already haven't seen his free kicks against West Ham last weekend, I suggest you look them up on YouTube right away.

Here's a pre-match quote from Everton's Bryan Oviedo, who has been handed a rare start this evening: "I'm hoping for a good game and a very good performance because Fulham are very good team with very good players and we need to perform well because this cup is very important for us."

And here's what Fulham's Sean Davis had to say: "Tuesday night will be a difficult game because Everton are a strong side. They’ve got a new manager and that probably brings with it a change in philosophy. I think they tend to have more possession now and obviously they had a fantastic win away to West Ham United on the weekend. They’ve got some dangerous players such as Leighton Baines, who scored a couple of free-kicks, while they’re also bringing through some young talent as well - Ross Barkley has really impressed me. It’s always a tough game against Everton but we’re at home and, hopefully, whatever team Martin puts out, the players will get the victory."

KICKOFF: Fulham get the match underway. Berbatov immediately gains possession in the final third, but he puts too much on his through ball and Robles collects.

Hangeland is brought down by the hard-tackling Heitinga. Senderos plays the resultant free kick long, but the Everton defence deal with the threat. Fulham's attack breaks down as an offside flag goes up against Berbatov.

McCarthy and McCarthy link up as Everton venture into their opponents' half for the first time. Fulham scramble the ball away and the Blues are ground to a halt as Lukaku handballs.

CHANCE! Oviedo finds an opening along the left flank and plays a cross into the Fulham box. Naismith connects but doesn't get much on it, allowing Stockdale to collect. Taarabt fires over at the other end moments later.

Everton have settled into the game the better of the two teams. They are holding possession and passing the ball well. Another chance has just gone begging for them as Lukaku's through ball fails to find Oviedo, who was on a different wavelength to his teammate.

Riise heads back to Stockdale under pressure from Deulofeu and gets just enough on it for the keeper to collect. The young Spaniard was chasing that one down and almost got there first.

SHOT! A deft turn by Lukaku carves out a chance for Naismith, whose shot is parried by Stockdale and then collected by the Fulham keeper. That was the best chance of the match so far.

Wonderful passing from Everton helps them claw their way in front as Gerard Deulofeu goes on a mazy run and plays the ball over the top for Naismith, allowing the Scot to rifle one past Stocksdale and make it 1-0.

BOOKING! Scott Parker is the first man to go into the book this evening for bringing down Deulofeu, who has been the star of this game so far.

End-to-end stuff now as this cup tie begins to open up. Berbatov heads a cross from Zverotic over at one end and Coleman wins a corner for Everton at the other, only for the Blues to squander it.

Lukaku finds Deulofeu just wide of the Fulham area and he cause havoc at the back, twisting and turning before trying to play the ball across the face of goal. It hits the side netting but clipped a white shirt along the way. Corner to Everton.

Fulham looked like they might have carved out an opening there, but Berbatov's run is halted by an offside flag. The Bulgarian striker hasn't timed his runs well so far this evening.

GREAT TACKLE! Deulofeu goes on another menacing run, surging past two defenders before Hangeland takes him out with a vital challenge. The Norwegian had to time that to perfection because he was the last man.

Fulham win a corner as Stones is forced to put the ball behind under pressure from Karagounis. Berbatov gets his head to the in-swinging corner but nods it over the crossbar. He hasn't looked his usual self so far.

Another half-chance for Fulham as Bryan Oviedo fails to clear his lines, allowing Elsad Zverotic to have a pop at goal, but he shoots wide.

Everton were by far the better side until a moment or two ago, with Deulofeu proving to be too much for the Fulham defence. They have allowed Fulham into these past few minutes and are now on the back foot.

CHANCE! Lukaku gains possession inside the area and tests Stockdale from close range. He tried to beat the Fulham stopper to his left, but the keeper was more than equal to that one.

BOOKING! We have our second booking of the night as Everton's Darron Gibson is cautioned for a late tackle on Karagounis.

Everton have restricted Fulham to ranged efforts for most of this first half, and Taarabt is the latest Cottager to try his luck from outside the box. He aims for the top corner, but finds only the stand behind the goal.

Deulofeu has a crack from a tight angle, his effort clipping Stockdale on its way behind. The Spaniard's corner finds its way to Distin in the box, but the Frenchman's header goes behind.

Naismith is lucky not to go into the book following a clumsy challenge of Karagounis. The Greek steps up to take the resulting free kick himself, whipping a ball into the Everton box. Robles makes a straightforward catch.

Deulofeu charges at the Fulham defence once again. They manage to hold him off but the ball falls to Gibson, who releases the Spaniard for a second attempt. His shot is eventually smothered by Stockdale.

Fulham are enjoying a good spell of possession ahead of the half-time whistle but are struggling to create anything in the final third.

Just the one minute of extra time played at Craven Cottage as Everton go into half time with a one-goal advantage courtesy of that Steven Naismith strike. They have been the better side in this first period.

Gerard Deulofeu has been the stand-out performer for them, virtually running the show single-handed and causing the Fulham rear guard all kinds of problems. The Barcelona loanee looks like a hot prospect!

Fulham have plenty of attacking options on the bench to help them claw their way back into this. Berbatov has looked isolated upfront, so perhaps the introduction of Bent or Sidwell could help take the pressure off him.

With the upper hand, Martinez could move to kill the game off with the introduction of either Jelavic or Mirallas, who will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet tonight given their team's dominance.

There are few potential upsets in tonight's other League Cup ties, aside from at Vicarage Road where Watford of the Championship are leading Premier League side Norwich City 1-0. You can get yourself up to speed on all of today's scores here.

The two teams are heading back out onto the pitch now.

Everton get the match back under way. No changes for either team at the interval.

Fulham are first to threaten in the second period as Taarabt powers forward and finds Kasami in the danger zone, who rifles one across the face of goal. That was nowhere near close, but it has got the home crowd fired up at least.

CHANCE! Fulham create their best chance of the game as Kacaniklic bears down on goal and lets fly, his effort pushed away by the fingertips of Robles. Everton under the cosh during the early stages of this second period.

The home side continues to press as Berbatov gets too much height on header and puts it over the bar. Kacaniklic has a stinging effort blocked moments later. Much better from Martin Jol's men!

We're level here at Craven Cottage as Fulham's bright start to the second half pays off. Taarabt and Kasami linked up well in the build-up, laying the ball on a plate for the Bulgarian to stab at from close range and claim his first goal of the current campaign.

Everton attempt to respond quickly as Gibson tussles with Senderos near the Fulham area. The ball goes out off the latter for an Everton corner but the Blues fail to make anything of it.

Deulofeu breaks along the right and attempts to play a pass across the face of the Fulham goal, but Senderos hacks it clear. He has been excellent at the back for Fulham this evening.

CHANCE! A great run by Parker hands Fulham a golden opportunity to take the lead. He tears the Everton defence apart and threads a pass through to Berbatov, but the striker shoots wide from a tight angle.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham bring on Venezuela international Amorebieta in place of Riise in a like-for-like switch at the back. However, it is Everton who look like they need a set of fresh legs out there.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make another change, throwing on Bent in place of Taarabt. Not doubt Bent will play further upfront to assist Berbatov.

Bent's first contribution is to put Robles under intense pressure. The striker chases down a long ball, forcing the Everton keeper to rush off his line and smother it. Robles was always the favourite to get there first, but he almost spilt that!

Everton have Jagielka and Barry are preparing to come on for Everton.

And the game has been turned on its head. Fulham's second goal came following a free kick, which Karagounis played along the ground to Bent inside the area, allowing the striker to fire past Robles into the bottom corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton bring on Jagielka and Barry for Gibson and Heitinga. I think a more attacking change is what Martinez should have gone for.

Although we should take nothing away from this Fulham comeback, Everton have been very poor in the second period. They marking was shocking during that free kick, allowing Bent to slip in unchallenged and give the hosts the lead.

CHANCE! So close to an Everton equaliser as the ball lands at Coleman's feet inside the area. The Ireland international attempts to curl one into the top corner, but his effort flies agonisingly wide.

Things are looking bleak for Everton as Martinez is staring his first defeat in the face.

SHOT! Deulofeu has had a comparatively quiet second half, but he has just shown a touch of class there, running circles around the Fulham defence and going for goal, his effort curling narrowly wide.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton bring on Mirallas in place of Naismith.

CHANCE! Everton are finally showing some urgency in this second half. First Mirallas gives his marker the slip and fires the ball across the face of goal, then Lukaku finds himself with space to shoot and tests Stockdale from close range. That almost got away from the Fulham keeper!

BOOKING! McCarthy is booked for a bad challenge on Kacaniklic. He can have no complaints about that but I'm sure his teammates will given that it's put an end to a good spell of Everton pressure.

Great work from Mirallas puts the Fulham defence under intense pressure. He exchanges passes with Coleman, but the home side's rear guard eventually closes the Belgian down and clears its lines.

SAVE! A fantastic reaction save from Stockdale keeps Fulham in front. Mirallas got away from his marker and squared to the ball across to Coleman in the area, but the legs of Stockdale deny the Irishman an equaliser!

There will be four additional minutes to play here. Everton need an equaliser but it's Fulham on the attack as Karagounis floats in a corner.

BOOKING! John Stones is booked for going in late on Karagounis, gifting Fulham a free kick in a dangerous position. The Greek has a shot from the resultant set piece, but Robles is equal to it.

Fulham progress to the fourth round of the League Cup after second half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and substitute Darren Bent see off Everton, inflicting a first defeat on Blues boss Roberto Martinez.

That's all from me here this evening. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this Capital One Cup showdown at Craven Cottage.