Everton against Aston Villa

Phil Neville has also come off to be replaced by Van der Meyde.

Anichebe is coming off for Leighton Baines.

Great bit of acceleration from Agbonlahor takes some pressure off the Villa defence as the game heads towards its close.

Fellaini is at the heart of the action again, winning the header which gives Villa a corner. Young takes that but Howard takes the ball cleanly when it is played.

Barry's free-kick in is played out by the head of Cahill but Villa get another chance when Fellaini is penalised for clattering in to the back of Sidwell.

Andy Van der Meyde (remember him) is about to come on for Everton by the looks of things.

Great tackle from Arteta who then goes on a run. He thinks twice about it, checks and Eveton now come down the right. Laursen puts in a good tackle and then Villa break suddenly with Ashley Young free one on one with Tim Howard. He hesitates though and cuts back inside when perhaps he should have shot. The chance goes but Young could have ended the game there.

Fellaini pleads his innocence in vain as Steve Sidwell lies on the floor following a challenge from the nicely-coiffeured midfielder.

Fantastic header from Laursen as Lescott's dangerous cross between keeper and defence looked like it was going to cause trouble for Villa. Laursen's header gives Everton a corner, then another and then a third. It's not lucky for Osman though who plays this one straight out of play.

Arteta's free-kick is headed clear by Davies but Everton continue to probe. Lescott's cross is cut out by Sidwell and Villa clear their lines.

Another good covering tackle by Cuellar gives Everton a throw-in close to the Villa goal. Still no way through for Everton though and Villa are defending their goal well.

Barry floats the ball high but Howard comes from his line to claim it well.

Luke Young's cross is headed behind for a Villa corner by Lescott.

Sidwell penalised for a foul on Pienaar and Everton now have a corner. It bounces from head to head until Brad Friedel takes control of the situation with a firm catch.

Jagielka looks sharp to get across and make an important covering tackle. That's more like it.

There was a shout for a penalty from the Everton crowd as Curtis Davies, stretching for a high ball, hits it against his own arm. The referee waves aside the Everton appeals.

Anichebe is clumsy in possession and the ball bounces off his knee for a Villa goal-kick.

It gets a bit feisty between Lescott and Sidwell but it's a man's game and the ref lets pay roll on.

Good tackle on Anichebe from Luke Young on the Villa eighteen yard line.

Jagielka wins a free-kick under pressure from Agbonlahor.

GOAL - Oh dear Phil Jagielka. The Everton defender's pass back ends up playing Ashley Young straight through on goal and he simply can't miss as he is presented with an early Christmas gift. He smashes the ball home past Tim Howard. Terrible error from Jagielka.

Barry has a look up to check on Tim Howard and fancies his chances from twenty-five yards. His curling shot though is straight at the Everton keeper.

Luke Young plays a long ball back to Fridel who has to look livelier than he would want to get to it before the chasing Anichebe.

Lescott chooses to leave a long cross in by Ashley Young as nobody was threatening behind him on that side for Villa.

Pienaar's cross in is headed clear by a stooping Davies.

Fellaini has won the header from the corner but from three yards Friedel gets an important touch. Another corner for Everton which Friedel this time fumbles for another corner. When it is played over, Phil Neville hits a weak shot but Everton have began the second half where they left off in the first.

The teams emerge for the second half and the camera has panned to 'deadly' Doug Ellis who is taking his seat. Everton concede a quick free-kick and Brad Friedel launches it high towards the Everton defence. It fails to trouble them though and Cuellar has to get back to concede a corner at the other end.

HALF-TIME: Aside from Villa's perfect start it has been Everton's half overall. In a fiercely contested match they look to be the more likely to grab the next goal.

Fellaini brings Ashley Young crashing to the floor and earns a yellow card. Young takes the free-kick but it is straight at Tim Howard. And that is that for a short while...

Osman skies a shot well wide when a bit more composure would have seen him trouble Brad Friedel. Remarkably that was the first shot which was off target in this game.

Everton almost do score a second but Cuellar makes amends for his earlier foul by clearing Fellaini's header from the Villa goal-line.

Villa are struggling to cope with the resurgent Everton and the home side look like they could double their tally before half-time. Martin O'Neill will be hoping that comes soon so he can rally his troops for the second half.

This time Arteta fails to get it past the first Villa man, Petrov, who blocks his effort well.

Lescott, who was running out of room down the left, is tripped and Arteta will again flight it in.

Anichebe's quick turn and shot is well covered by Friedel who gets to his knees to take the ball.

Osman squares an inviting pass across the six yard line towards Anichebe but he just over-hits the pass and the Everton striker does not have the legs to reach it. A let off for Villa.

Cuellar will be kicking himself for the needless free-kick which led to the Everton goal. Can Villa respond? A long cross come shot has Tim Howard scampering back towards his goal but it goes just wide.

GOAL - Arteta flights in the free-kick from the left and Lescott sticks out a leg which the ball strikes (looked like it hit his knee) before bouncing past Brad Friedel. All square.

Cuellar penalised for fouling Cahill and Everton have a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Pienaar flights a ball up towards Cahill who jumps for the ball. It breaks to Osman who just gets the ball trapped under his feet in the Villa penalty area. Unlucky.

A shoulder to shoulder challenge from Milner on Anichebe sees the Villa man knock the Everton striker over but also just play the ball. Not that the home crowd saw it that way. Luckily the referee was well placed to make the call and no penalty is given.

Howard again makes the save this time from Fellaini's header as the corner comes across.

Wonderful save from Brad Friedel as Tim Cahill struck a vicious shot at him from twelve yards after a smart turn. It was close to the big Villa keeper but he still had to look sharp. Everton now have a corner.

Cahill robs Petrov in possession in the Everton penalty area with a fine tackle.

Everton have composed themselves following that first minute shocker and are asking a few more questions of Villa. Fellaini calls for a penalty under pressure from Laursen but the referee waves play on.

Sidwell harshly judged to have fouled Cahill who looked like he was running out of ideas close to his own penalty area.

Slack pass from Arteta fails to find Steven Pienaar to general groans about Goodison Park.

Young's corner is headed out for another on the opposite side but nothing comes of that either.

Some poor passing from the Toffees this time as Osman's ball gives Villa a throw. Phil Neville then pops up to deny Ashley Young a free header at goal at the expense of a Villa corner.

Everton are knocking the ball around patiently and their movement is good but Fellaini is careless in possession and is fortunate that Agbonlahor does not capatalise on the break.

Lescott's cross again cleared by Laursen who is handling everything thrown at him perfectly so far this afternoon.

A great covering interception by Laursen to block Fellaini's pass.

Villa have another throw deep in Everton's half. Laursen then launches a high ball up towards Sidwell and the ball breaks to Agbonlahor who somewhat snatches at his shot. It's all Villa so far.

It was actually Milner who fed Sidwell for the goal. Nice ball in it was too.

Great clearing header from Martin Laursen who inadvertently takes out team-mate Gareth Barry when he wins the ball. Barry is now suffering the effects of Laursen's determination.

It is played over at the second attempt by Ashley Young but Howard takes a clean catch when it comes.

Phil Neville concedes a throw deep in Everton territory and Agbonlahor then plays a ball off the ex-Manchester United man for a corner which Tim Howard is not happy about.

Everton have barely had time to breathe yet and the crowd, some of whom would still have been finding their way to their seats, seem suitably stunned by Sidwell's strike.

GOAL - My gosh what a start. Mikel Arteta loses out to Young who feeds it to James Milner who in turn finds Steve Sidwell. The ex-Reading man finds himself with a sight at goal from twenty-five yards and he absolutely buries a stunning shot past Tim Howard. Amazing start to the game!

Tim Cahill awaits the referee's signal and we are underway. A brief flurry of headers and high balls and Villa have a throw.

Sixth versus seventh at Goodison Park this evening as the tight battle for European places comes to Merseyside. Victor Anichebe leads the Everton line as injuries deny David Moyes the services of his first choice strikers. Villa start with the same eleven that drew with Fulham in the Premier League last week.

There was a shout for a penalty from the Everton crowd as Curtis Davies, stretching for a high ball, hits it against his own arm. The referee waves aside the Everton appeals.

Anichebe is clumsy in possession and the ball bounces off his knee for a Villa goal-kick.

It gets a bit feisty between Lescott and Sidwell but it's a man's game and the ref lets pay roll on.

Good tackle on Anichebe from Luke Young on the Villa eighteen yard line.

Jagielka wins a free-kick under pressure from Agbonlahor.

GOAL - Oh dear Phil Jagielka. The Everton defender's pass back ends up playing Ashley Young straight through on goal and he simply can't miss as he is presented with an early Christmas gift. He smashes the ball home past Tim Howard. Terrible error from Jagielka.

Barry has a look up to check on Tim Howard and fancies his chances from twenty-five yards. His curling shot though is straight at the Everton keeper.

Luke Young plays a long ball back to Fridel who has to look livelier than he would want to get to it before the chasing Anichebe.

Lescott chooses to leave a long cross in by Ashley Young as nobody was threatening behind him on that side for Villa.

Pienaar's cross in is headed clear by a stooping Davies.

Fellaini has won the header from the corner but from three yards Friedel gets an important touch. Another corner for Everton which Friedel this time fumbles for another corner. When it is played over, Phil Neville hits a weak shot but Everton have began the second half where they left off in the first.

The teams emerge for the second half and the camera has panned to 'deadly' Doug Ellis who is taking his seat. Everton concede a quick free-kick and Brad Friedel launches it high towards the Everton defence. It fails to trouble them though and Cuellar has to get back to concede a corner at the other end.

HALF-TIME: Aside from Villa's perfect start it has been Everton's half overall. In a fiercely contested match they look to be the more likely to grab the next goal.

Fellaini brings Ashley Young crashing to the floor and earns a yellow card. Young takes the free-kick but it is straight at Tim Howard. And that is that for a short while...

Osman skies a shot well wide when a bit more composure would have seen him trouble Brad Friedel. Remarkably that was the first shot which was off target in this game.

Everton almost do score a second but Cuellar makes amends for his earlier foul by clearing Fellaini's header from the Villa goal-line.

Villa are struggling to cope with the resurgent Everton and the home side look like they could double their tally before half-time. Martin O'Neill will be hoping that comes soon so he can rally his troops for the second half.

This time Arteta fails to get it past the first Villa man, Petrov, who blocks his effort well.

Lescott, who was running out of room down the left, is tripped and Arteta will again flight it in.

Anichebe's quick turn and shot is well covered by Friedel who gets to his knees to take the ball.

Osman squares an inviting pass across the six yard line towards Anichebe but he just over-hits the pass and the Everton striker does not have the legs to reach it. A let off for Villa.

Cuellar will be kicking himself for the needless free-kick which led to the Everton goal. Can Villa respond? A long cross come shot has Tim Howard scampering back towards his goal but it goes just wide.

GOAL - Arteta flights in the free-kick from the left and Lescott sticks out a leg which the ball strikes (looked like it hit his knee) before bouncing past Brad Friedel. All square.

Cuellar penalised for fouling Cahill and Everton have a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Pienaar flights a ball up towards Cahill who jumps for the ball. It breaks to Osman who just gets the ball trapped under his feet in the Villa penalty area. Unlucky.

A shoulder to shoulder challenge from Milner on Anichebe sees the Villa man knock the Everton striker over but also just play the ball. Not that the home crowd saw it that way. Luckily the referee was well placed to make the call and no penalty is given.

Howard again makes the save this time from Fellaini's header as the corner comes across.

Wonderful save from Brad Friedel as Tim Cahill struck a vicious shot at him from twelve yards after a smart turn. It was close to the big Villa keeper but he still had to look sharp. Everton now have a corner.

Cahill robs Petrov in possession in the Everton penalty area with a fine tackle.

Everton have composed themselves following that first minute shocker and are asking a few more questions of Villa. Fellaini calls for a penalty under pressure from Laursen but the referee waves play on.

Sidwell harshly judged to have fouled Cahill who looked like he was running out of ideas close to his own penalty area.

Slack pass from Arteta fails to find Steven Pienaar to general groans about Goodison Park.

Young's corner is headed out for another on the opposite side but nothing comes of that either.

Some poor passing from the Toffees this time as Osman's ball gives Villa a throw. Phil Neville then pops up to deny Ashley Young a free header at goal at the expense of a Villa corner.

Everton are knocking the ball around patiently and their movement is good but Fellaini is careless in possession and is fortunate that Agbonlahor does not capatalise on the break.

Lescott's cross again cleared by Laursen who is handling everything thrown at him perfectly so far this afternoon.

A great covering interception by Laursen to block Fellaini's pass.

Villa have another throw deep in Everton's half. Laursen then launches a high ball up towards Sidwell and the ball breaks to Agbonlahor who somewhat snatches at his shot. It's all Villa so far.

It was actually Milner who fed Sidwell for the goal. Nice ball in it was too.

Great clearing header from Martin Laursen who inadvertently takes out team-mate Gareth Barry when he wins the ball. Barry is now suffering the effects of Laursen's determination.

It is played over at the second attempt by Ashley Young but Howard takes a clean catch when it comes.

Phil Neville concedes a throw deep in Everton territory and Agbonlahor then plays a ball off the ex-Manchester United man for a corner which Tim Howard is not happy about.

Everton have barely had time to breathe yet and the crowd, some of whom would still have been finding their way to their seats, seem suitably stunned by Sidwell's strike.

GOAL - My gosh what a start. Mikel Arteta loses out to Young who feeds it to James Milner who in turn finds Steve Sidwell. The ex-Reading man finds himself with a sight at goal from twenty-five yards and he absolutely buries a stunning shot past Tim Howard. Amazing start to the game!

Tim Cahill awaits the referee's signal and we are underway. A brief flurry of headers and high balls and Villa have a throw.

Sixth versus seventh at Goodison Park this evening as the tight battle for European places comes to Merseyside. Victor Anichebe leads the Everton line as injuries deny David Moyes the services of his first choice strikers. Villa start with the same eleven that drew with Fulham in the Premier League last week.