Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter as Swansea City play host to Everton at the Liberty Stadium. We should have some team news for you shortly...

SWANSEA: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Canas, Shelvey, de Guzman, Routledge, Hernandez; Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Zabret, Amat, Taylor, Britton, Pozuelo, Lamah, Vazquez

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has made a total of six changes following last weekend's 1-1 draw at Norwich City as Gerhard Tremmel, Dwight Tiendalli, Chico Flores, Wayne Routledge and Wilfried Bony are all recalled.

EVERTON: Howard; Coleman, Oviedo, Jagielka, Distin; McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Pienaar, Barkley; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Heitinga, Naismith, Osman, Stones, Vellios, Alcaraz

Just the two changes for Everton as James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas are brought into the starting XI. Leon Osman drops to the bench, while Gerard Deulofeu is ruled out through injury.

So, what's at stake for these teams today? Swansea will climb up into the top half of the table if they win this afternoon, while Everton will move into fourth place in the table if they come away with the points.

It's also a poignant day for Everton boss Roberto Martinez as he returns to the club where he spent five years as both a player and a manager. The Spaniard was the captain of the Swans when they preserved their Football League status on the final day of the 2002-03 season before guiding the team to the League One title in 2008.

RECENT FORM:

SWANSEA: LLWDLD
EVERTON: DDWWDW

While it's been a fairly inconsistent season for Swansea, Everton have been in fine form from pretty much the opening day. The Toffees come into this match on an unbeaten run of nine matches that includes five wins.

UPDATE: Today's other game in the Premier League has just finished at St Mary's Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur have earned an important 3-2 win against Southampton. Emmanuel Adebayor found the net twice for the visitors in what was caretaker manager Tim Sherwood's first league match in charge.

17 - Everton have never lost in any competition to Swansea City (W12 D5 L0). Whitewash. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 20, 2013

HEAD TO HEAD: As you can see from that tweet, Everton have been dominant against Swansea down the years. The Toffees have won 11 wins in 16 games, while there have been five draws.

Under David Moyes, Everton recorded a 3-0 victory in this fixture last season. However, the Swans gained a measure of revenge as they held their opponents to a goalless draw at Goodison Park.

Everton have also enjoyed themselves when playing Swansea away from home, picking up seven wins and one draw in eight games. Not a bad record at all.

One factor that should be taken into account when it comes to Swansea's stop-start form this season is their participation in the Europa League. The Welsh side have successfully made it through to the last 32 of the competition where they will meet Napoli. If they manage to make it through that tie, they can expect either Porto or Eintracht Frankfurt in the last 16.

REFEREE WATCH: The man in the middle for today's match is Lee Mason.

UPDATE: You can read our report of today's 3-2 win for Spurs against Southampton right here. As long as you promise to come back.

Nikica Jelavic, who is not in the squad today, has been unwell this week #EFCSCFC — Everton (@Everton) December 22, 2013

On the fashion front, Ross Barkley has had a severe haircut. Gone is the slick blonde barnet atop the youngster's head. The midfielder is now sporting what can only be described as a close shave. You can almost see his scalp.

PREDICTION TIME: What we can expect today is plenty of possession football from both teams. Michael Laudrup and Roberto Martinez like their players to pass the ball around in a patient style, though you have to view Everton as the favourites for this one. It might be close, but the visitors may just have that extra bit of quality as the game wears on.

The players emerge from the tunnel and out onto the pitch at the Liberty Stadium. It has rained very briefly within the past hour, but the playing surface looks like a good one.

KICKOFF! The pre-match handshakes have been completed and it will be Swansea to get us underway. Here we go!

It's been a great start to the match for Swansea, who have begun at a frantic pace. Shelvey has already put a couple of decent crosses into the Everton box, with Routledge shooting wide from the second.

Everton are just starting to find their feet in this match, but Swansea are continuing to set the early tempo. Former Liverpool midfielder Shelvey in particular looks up for the fight this afternoon. He could be important for the home side this afternoon, breaking up opposition attacks while driving his own team forward.

This is better from the visitors as they get into their passing rhythm. They're using both flanks to good effect, with Mirallas, Pienaar, Oviedo and Coleman all linking well. However, they haven't really put together any menacing attacks so far.

CHANCE! First proper opportunity of the game as Mirallas twists and turns in the Swansea box before hitting a low shot that Tremmel deals with easily.

Everton are beginning to control proceedings now as they look positive both on and off the ball. Swansea are being allowed some possession deep in their own half, but nothing that can hurt the away side.

De Guzman goes down around the edge of the box, though referee Lee Mason does the right thing and waves play on. In fact, he could have easily booked the Swansea midfielder there for simulation as it looked to be a pretty poor dive.

CHANCE! Close for Everton! Chico inexplicably gave the ball away to Mirallas, but the Everton midfielder took too long on the ball before seeing his shot blocked by the recovering Swansea defence. The visitors eventually win a corner, though they can't make anything of it.

PHOTO Everton's Seamus Coleman and Jose Canas of Swansea battle for the ball in a tight opening to their match pic.twitter.com/lL5h7emuiE — Premier League (@premierleague) December 22, 2013

CHANCE! A moment of panic in the Swansea defence there as Tremmel dropped a cross, but the goalkeeper managed to get a hold of the ball before Lukaku could poke it into the net. The visitors have enjoyed the better opportunities so far, but it remains pretty even between the teams.

While Everton are looking confident whenever they venture forward, the same can't be said of Swansea. The hosts have misplaced a few passes in the final third so far as both sides look for the first goal. They will need to improve going forward if they are to break down this organised Everton team.

That's poor from Routledge. The Swansea winger did well to make space down the left before delivering a deep cross that evaded his teammates waiting in the box. The hosts get possession back, but Bony can only fire high and wide with his left foot from just inside the area.

One player who has not been afforded too much space so far is Ross Barkley. The Everton midfielder was superb against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, though it's a different story today as he isn't being allowed to make his trademark runs from deep.

In all honesty, this hasn't been the best match in terms of excitement and goal-mouth action. Both teams are enjoying time on the ball, but there is a distinct lack of quality in the final third. As expected, this game is being contested in midfield.

Five minutes of normal time left in this first half and it's difficult to see where the opening goal is going to come from.

That was both the good and bad from Swansea's Bony. The striker did brilliantly to win possession for the hosts, but his through ball to Hernandez had too much on it and was easily collected by Howard.

One minute of added time to be played at the end of this first half...

Lee Mason blows the half-time whistle as Swansea City and Everton go in goalless at the break. It wasn't a brilliant opening 45 minutes, but hopefully we'll see an improvement in the second half.

In truth, the teams have cancelled each other out so far. There's been plenty of passing and hustling in midfield, but a real lack on incision in the final third. However, it was Everton who have just about created the better chances so far.

UPDATE: We've already had one full-time result in the Premier League today as Tottenham Hotspur earned a 3-2 win over Southampton at St Mary's Stadium. You can read all about that five-goal thriller here.

6 - All six of Swansea's shots in the first half vs Everton were off target. Wayward. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 22, 2013

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Both teams are back out and it will be Everton to kick off this second half. No changes at the break.

It's been a positive start to this second half from Swansea, who are trying to put some early pressure on Everton. The hosts win a corner, but Chico can only scuff his shot wide from De Guzman's delivery.

Decent play down the right from Everton as Mirallas puts a low cross into the box. However, it's an easy one for Tremmel who gets down low to collect with Lukaku in attendance. The visitors are starting to put their stamp on things a bit more.

WIDE! Everton have a crack at goal as Pienaar takes aim from about 15 yards, but the South African shanks his effort off target.

CHANCE! The best opportunity of the match falls Barkley's way, only for the Everton midfielder to stumble at the crucial moment! A quick counter-attack saw the youngster played through on goal, though he slipped just as he was about to shoot, allowing Swansea to snuff out the danger.

The away side are really starting to crank up the pressure now. They're looking far more dangerous going forward, while Swansea aren't doing enough to keep hold of the ball. Can the Merseysiders capitalise on their dominance?

We've had an hour played and it's still goalless between Swansea and Everton. However, the visitors are still knocking on the door in search of the game's opening goal. Pienaar and Barkley are both showing a lot more attacking intent in this second half.

CHANCE! Close for Everton! The ball bounced around in the Swansea box before Barry hooked it towards goal. However, the midfielder got a bit too much on it and put it over the crossbar. A few inches lower and that could well have caught Tremmel out.

SAVE! What a stop from Tremmel! Barkley unleashed a ferocious left-footed drive from 25 yards which the Swansea goalkeeper tipped away for a corner. Unfortunately for the visitors they can't make anything of it as the hosts see out the danger.

We have an opening goal and it's an absolute beauty from Seamus Coleman to put Everton in front. The full-back picked the ball up around 25 yards from goal before hitting a superb strike past Tremmel. Pick that one out! Meanwhile, Swansea have made a change as Roland Lamah replaces Wayne Routledge.

CHANCE! Everton reall have their tails up now! Barkley leads a counter-attack for the visitors before Barry receives the ball on the edge of the box. The midfielder has a crack at goal, but Tremmel gets down low to make the save.

Just like that, Swansea are level! A cross from the left was met at the back post by Dwight Tiendalli, who's shot towards goal looked to go in off the unfortunate Bryan Oviedo. Everton looked to be in control after taking the lead, but now it's all square.

This match is pure end-to-end stuff now as both teams surge forward whenever they are on the ball. You have to say that Everton deservedly took the lead through Coleman, though they can count themselves unlucky to concede as they did. Still, there's around 15 minutes left for them to find a winner.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make another change here as Wilfried Bony comes off for Alvaro Vazquez. Bony doesn't look particularly pleased with that decision, it must be said.

SUBSTITUTION: Further bad news for Everton here as Steven Pienaar is forced off in place of Steven Naismith. It looks as if the midfielder pulled a muscle in his leg there. Meanwhile, Leon Osman also joins the action as he replaces Kevin Mirallas.

Ten minutes of normal time left to play at the Liberty Stadium. Is that enough time for either of these teams to find a winning goal? It looks like neither is settling for a point.

Something of a half-chance for Swansea as Vazquez is set free down the right side, but the substitute's attempted chip over Howard in the Everton goal is easily gathered by the American.

YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the match goes the way of Swansea's Ben Davies after a cynical foul on McCarthy.

Oh, that is superb from Ross Barkley as Everton regain the lead! The youngster stepped up to take the resulting free kick following Davies's foul on McCarthy, and he curled a sensational shot into the top corner past the flailing Tremmel. Incredible.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make another change as Jonathan de Guzman comes off in place of Alejandro Pozuelo. Not long left for the hosts to salvage something from this match.

Everton win a corner following some persistent work from Coleman, but Osman can only fire over from a tight angle after the ball came back to him out wide.

There will be three minutes of added time. Can Swansea find an equaliser?

SAVE! They nearly do as Lamah strikes a stinging volley from 25 yards which Howard pushes away for a corner. The resulting kick finds its way to Vazquez, but the substitute just can't get anything on it as the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Lee Mason blows the full-time whistle and Everton move into the Champions League places with a 2-1 win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Seamus Coleman's opener was cancelled out by Dwight Tiendalli before Ross Barkley scored a stunning free kick to seal the points for the Toffees.

Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from today's match right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for joining us, enjoy the rest of your weekend and we hope to see you soon. Goodbye!