Everton stretched their unbeaten run against Wigan Athletic to nine games with a 2-1 win at Goodison Park this afternoon.
Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka scored the goals that helped the Blues to reclaim a spot in the top four, but they had to work hard for the points following Arouna Kone's goal with nine minutes remaining.
David Moyes's men now go above Arsenal, while the Latics still languish in the relegation zone.
You can read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon. We here at Sports Mole hope you had a great day yesterday, but fear not as the fun's not over... we have some festive football for you! Today we're at Goodison Park where Everton take on Wigan Athletic.
The Toffees are unbeaten in their last six home and away and have won two of their last three. David Moyes's men came from behind to defeat West Ham United at Upton Park in their last outing.
Three points this afternoon will see Everton into the top four. They are currently level on points with Arsenal (30), but the Gunners' fixture has been postponed due to the Tube strike in London.
However, Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion also have 30 points and could go above the Blues should they slip up today. The Latics, meanwhile, are loitering in the drop zone and need a win to rein in Aston Villa and Southampton.
Wigan lost their last match thanks to former Everton favourite Mikel Arteta, who dispatched a second-half penalty to seal all three points for Arsenal at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Right, time for some team news...
Everton: Howard, Baines, Gibson, Jagielka, Distin, Hitzlsperger, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Anichebe, Jelavic
Wigan: Al-Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa, Stam, McCarthy, McArthur, Jones, Beasejour, Maloney, Kone
Victor Anichebe keeps his place in the starting lineup following his equalising goal against West Ham on Saturday. Thomas Hitzlsperger replaces John Heitinga in midfield in an otherwise unchanged team.
Roberto Martinez brings Gary Caldwell back into his side in place of Franco di Santo, who picked up a slight knock in the defeat to Arsenal. The Argentine does start on the bench, however.
Click here for full team news from Goodison Park.
Four of the last five meetings between these two teams have ended in a draw, including their last clash at the DW Stadium in October.
Everton are riding high in fifth and challenging for a place in next season's Champions League draw. They also boast a fantastic record over today's opponents, having avoided defeat on the last eight occasions.
Sports Mole also has coverage of Sunderland vs. Manchester City, Manchester United vs. Newcastle and Norwich City vs Chelsea today.
Wigan last scored a victory over Everton at Goodison Park in their first season in the Premier League thanks to a Damien Francis goal.
Some breaking news in from Loftus Road. The start of the match between Queens Park rangers and West Bromwich Albion has been delayed due to the Baggies' team coach being stuck in a traffic jam.
Now back to the game at Goodison Park. Wigan are bidding to reverse a poor run of form on their travels, which has seen them lose six of their last seven.
Everton's main goalscoring threat no doubt rests with Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic. David Moyes snapped him up from a financially-ruined Rangers outfit for £5m last January, and Jelavic has repaid the Scot with 17 goals in 30 games. However, the well has run slightly dry of late and he will be desperate to add to his six strikes this season.
In saying that, Jelavic did pounce late with a typically-instinctive finish to see off league rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the month.
It's now just under 10 minutes until kickoff at Goodison Park.
The teams are in the tunnel and ready to come out. everton's iconic anthem 'Z Cars' starts to play at they emerge to a huge roar.
And with the pre-match customs completed, we're ready for kickoff!
Wigan get this game underway...
Everton go straight on the attack! Jelavic tees up Anichebe on the edge of the area, but the Nigerian fires over the bar.
Distin gives the ball away in his own half and Beausejour has the chance to whip a cross into the box, but Howard deals with it comfortably at his near post.
Everton have had most of the ball so far while Wigan are sitting back. No real action to speak of just yet.
Kone tries to make a burst through the Everton backline but the linesman raises his flag for offside.
Jagielka concedes a corner.
Beausejour delivers and Figueroa knocks the ball down for McCarthy just outside the area, and he drives it into a ruck of players inside the box... but it's blocked. The referee blows his whistle as Jagielka lies prone on the floor having taken one in the ribs.
The atmosphere is a bit flat at the moment. It's been a subdued start by the hosts.
Everton find some space on the right for the first time and Pienaar delivers for Anichebe and the ball is put behind for a corner.
A great delivery nearly finds Distin but Stam just seemed to put him off as he ran in on goal. A slight opening, but it goes begging.
Baines does well down the left and gets to the byline. He slipped the ball back for his partner in crime Pienaar, who drove the ball at Al-Habsi's near post... but into the side netting. Decent spell for Everton at the moment, they're starting to get a bit more joy going forward.
A great opportunity for Everton to break breaks down with Anichebe. Beausejour had got down the left, but his cross was behind all of the Wigan players advancing into the area and Pienaar looked to spring forward, but Anichebe's layoff to Baines was poor.
Jelavic tries to get on the end of Pienaar's hanging cross but it's headed clear, but only as far as Baines. The England international delivers to Anichebe, but his glancing header goes wide.
Free kick to Wigan from around 245 yards out. Gibson brought down McCarthy after a botched clearance. Figueroa had delivered from the left and Howard was forced to punch it away.
Maloney catches it true, but Howard was right behind it.
Anichebe is penalised for a foul on McCarthy, but the referee keeps his card in his pocket.
All of Wigan's attacking play is coming down the left-hand side. Beausejour has delivered a few dangerous crosses but there haven't been enough men forward to capitalise.
Osman and Jelavic try to link up but the Croatian gets himself in a bit of a tangle.
Both teams look like they could score when they foray forward. The midfiielders are working hard at the moment, Gibson and McCarthy in particular.
It is a bit scrappy though. But there are goals in this one.
Wigan break down the left with Kone, who passes the ball to Stam on the right. The full-back comes inside on his left foot, but his shot doesn't trouble Howard.
Wigan are getting men forward when they maintain possession in Everton's final third. However, the effort has been wasted by a few sloppy crosses. When Beausejour does manage to deliver a decent cross, there is not one there. It must be so frustrating for Bobby Martinez.
Stam delivers a wicked ball into the box that Jagielka has to dive to head clear. The ball bounces off Distin and falls to Baines, who is felled. Pressure relieved by the referee's whistle.
Scrappy defending gives Anichebe the chance to shoot at goal, but it is deflected behind for a corner.
The corner is a deep one to the back post, but two Wigan players are there to head behind for another corner.
The ball is fired into the near post and is headed behind for yet another corner.
Another fantastic delivery by Baines but still Everton can't get the break, but they have ANOTHER corner...
CLAIMS FOR HANDBALL! this time Wigan manage to clear, but only after a nervy moment when Maloney controlled the ball near his shoulder and the home crowd screamed for handball. The referee is unmoved... and it's the correct decision.
Free kick to Everton from around 30 yards.
Gibson thumps it, but the ball cannons off the wall. The Irish international looks to have pulled something in striking that one...
There's just one minute of added time at the end of the first half.
Half time: Everton 0-0 Wigan
Well it's been a somewhat scrappy first 45 minutes. Roberto Martinez will no doubt be the happier manager, but his Wigan side have reason to believe that they could nick a goal.
McCarthy has been box to box, while Jones has sat in the hole between defence and midfield and broke up play brilliantly.
Everton have just shaded possession with 52% of the ball, but all in all it's been quite even.
The Blues had a succession of corners as the half came to an end but Wigan crowded the box. They're obviously wary of Everton's threat from set pieces, even in the absence of the suspended Marouane Fellaini.
Elsewhere in the Premier League:
Fulham 1-0 Southampton
Man Utd 1-2 Newcastle
Norwich 0-1 Chelsea
QPR 0-1 West Brom (L)
Reading 0-0 Swansea
Sunderland 0-0 Man City
Fulham 1-0 Southampton
Man Utd 1-2 Newcastle
Norwich 0-1 Chelsea
QPR 0-1 West Brom (L)
Reading 0-0 Swansea
Sunderland 0-0 Man City
Click here to read Sports Mole's Half-Time Report.
Everton are back out and ready for the second half. They're being kept waiting by Wigan.
There's also going to be a substitution for the Blues. Steven Naismith replaces Darron Gibson, who looked to have pulled up slightly when striking a free kick late in the half.
Everton resume play in the second half...
Everton resume play in the second half...
OFF THE BAR! Hitzlsperger strikes one from all of 30 yards and the ball cannons off the woodwork! Great effort!
That came out of nothing. Al-Habsi was beaten all ends up.
Apologies for the slight delay in coverage. A few technical problems, but they should be all ironed out now.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Wigan (Osman)
The goal has been given to Osman, but it was a cruel deflection off McCarthy's hand that diverted the ball past Al-Habsi. The England international's shot looked to be going wide after finding a yard of space on the edge of the area, but it gives Everton the lead!
Now Jelavic breaks forward but can't get a shot away. Chance wasted! Wigan are on the ropes slightly and the crowd are alive now!
Osman delivers a dangerous ball for Anichebe and Jelavic, but neither can get a telling touch.
CLAIMS FOR A PENALTY! Maloney goes down under Osman's challenge and the Scot screams for a penalty! Wigan players surround the referee but he gives nothing!
Replays show that there was contact, but Maloney could have easily avoided Osman's leg.
Saying that, it was dangerous play by Osman. He did stick his leg out and was asking for it. An escape, maybe?
Wigan are trying to get forward now. Maloney wins a corner off Jagielka.
Beausejour delivers deep for Caldwell but his header back across goal floats harmlessly wide.
Jelavic is hurt after making a challenge of Figueroa. He's receiving treatment on the pitch.
CHANCE! Maloney squares the ball for Kone and Neville has to make a last-ditch challenge to take the ball off his toe! A warning sign for the Blues!
Wigan have started fizzing the ball about now and generally look more threatening. Can they get back in this game?
Beausejour delivers for Kone but the Everton backline holds firm and clears the ball. Good spell for the visitors!
Double Everton substitution: John Heitinga and Bryan Oviedo come on to replace Thomas Hitzlsperger and Victor Anichebe.
Will this change shift the momentum back in Everton's favour?
Leighton Baines fires at goal but doesn't catch it cleanly. It bobbles wide of Al-Habsi's goal.
Wigan substitution: David Jones makes way for Franco di Santo.
Another striker on for Wigan.
Everton seem to have weathered that Wigan storm. But this one's far from over.
Di Santo and Kone link up on the edge of the area, but can't force an opening. Wigan retain possession, though.
Jelavic finds space on the right but he can;t find Naismith with his cross. Corner.
GOAL! Everton 2-0 Wigan (Jagielka)
The corner was rolled back for Neville to cross, and there was only one winner as Jagielka climbed high above Caldwell before powering a header into the top corner. Game, set and match?
Wigan substitution: Jordi Gomez comes on for Ronnie Stam.
Oviedo tries a volley on the edge of the area. Ambitious. And miles off target.
GOAL! Everton 2-1 Wigan (Kone)
Sloppy defending by Everton! Di Santo managed to create a yard of space for himself just outside the area. He had a go at goal, but the ball spooned high into the air off Jagielka. Kone was the quickest to react by bundling the ball home. Game on!
Naismith drives forward but can;t find a way through. He wins a corner.
Everton win a free kick on the halfway line. This will give them a chance to push up.
Osman goes down on the edge of the area after a weaving run but the referee isn't interested! The crowd aren't happy!
Wigan are piling forward when they have the ball but Everton are holding firm. Four minutes of added time will be played.
Beausejour delivers another dangerous cross but the pressure is relieved when the referee blows up for Di Santo's handball.
Everton are looking a bit panicky at the moment...
McCarthy shoots but it goes well over Howard's bar. There was little conviction in it.
Caldwell concedes a free kick. That buys Everton some time.
Full time: Everton 2-1 Wigan
Everton hold on for the three points. they had to endure a few nervy moments at the end of the game but they have prevailed. That's 13 games unbeaten at home for David Moyes's men now. It's more misery for Wigan, however.
