Good afternoon all and thanks for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Everton's Premier League clash with Southampton at Goodison Park. Both sides opened the 2018-19 campaign with respective draws last weekend and will now be hoping for their first three points of the season on Merseyside today.

EVERTON STARTING XI: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Baines; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Tosun

EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Stekelenburg, Zouma, Kenny, Davies, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: McCarthy; Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Lemina, Redmond; Austin, Ings

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Gabbiadini, Yoshida, Gunn, Hojbjerg, Armstrong, Long, Targett

Everton have made just one change from last weekend's 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers as the suspended Phil Jagielka is replaced by Mason Holgate in the heart of defence. The younger will sit alongside Michael Keane in the centre, while Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines feature in the full-back berths.

Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin have been tasked with holding the midfield in a 4-2-3-1, while Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott will provide attacking support for lone striker Cenk Tosun. There is still no space on the bench for Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne or Andre Gomes, but Kurt Zouma does feature amongst the substitutes.

For Southampton, Mark Hughes has decided to hand a full debut to loan frontman Danny Ings, who will likely feature alongside Charlie Austin in a 4-4-2 formation. In midfield, Nathan Redmond, James Ward-Prowse and Mario Lemina will aim to provide the creative while Oriol Romeu will look to sit and hold in the centre.

At the back, Cedric Soares is at right-back and Ryan Bertrand on the left, leaving Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens will be occupying the centre of defence. Unfortunately for Saints fans, Mohamed Elyounoussi is out with a tight hamstring, although Stuart Armstrong has been included on the bench.

Coming onto the game, Everton fans will likely be enthused by the style of play the Toffees exhibited under Marco Silva's guidance in their opening 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blues were exciting going forward and might well have taken three points had it not been for Jagielka's first-half sending off.

The standout performer from that contest was £50m summer signing Richarlison, who bagged a brace on his Premier League debut for the Toffees. The youngster came off suffering from cramp late on in that game, but Everton fans will be delighted to see that he has shaken off any lasting rust to make the starting XI here.

Everton look to have spent wisely elsewhere too following moves for the likes of Digne and Mina, as well as promising loan deals for Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma and Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes.

Heading into the club's first home game of the new season, Everton will be aiming to build from a positive run of form at Goodison Park. The Toffees have not lost at home since coming unstuck against Manchester City back in March. Everton have won four and drawn three league games on home turf since then.

In fact, Everton put together the seventh best home record in the top flight last term, picking up 10 wins from 19 games on Merseyside.

Over the course of the last five seasons, Everton have managed to go unbeaten in the first two games of the campaigns, although the Toffees have won their first home match on just two occasions in the last decade.

The Toffees faithful already seem to have taken to Richarlison, who scored from his only two shots on goal last weekend. The Brazilian appeared to struggle when Silva departed Watford last term and it will be an intriguing narrative to see how the pair profit from rekindling their professional relationship this season.

Silva himself still has plenty to prove in this league too, especially after his stock fell so dramatically at the Hornets when Everton appeared to try and pip him as their new boss following Ronald Koeman's sacking. Silva enjoyed bright starts at both Hull City and Watford, but has tended to struggle in the mid-stages of his tenure in managerial posts.

Coming up against Southampton, Everton will be well aware of their dominant record over the seaside club in the league at Goodison. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 13 home league games against Saints, winning nine and drawing four.

Having managed to drag Southampton from the brink of relegation last season, Mark Hughes has had the summer to reorganise a Saints side that at times has struggled to threaten going forward.

The club lost key man Dusan Tadic to Ajax over the summer window, but were also able to bring in promising winger Elyounoussi, midfielder Stuart Armstrong and centre-back Jannik Vestergaard, none of whom are able to start this afternoon. Armstrong finds himself on the bench, while Vestergaard and Elyounoussi have not made the squad just yet.

Southampton's late loan deal for Ings could also prove vital as he appeared to add some much-needed guile in the final third when he came on against Burnley during the opening weekend.

Hughes evidently had issues with his team's setup last weekend but after a few tweaks and the introduction of Ings, Saints seemed to play with a little more attacking fluidity - something that has been sorely lacking for a while now at St Mary's.

The club's goalless draw with the Clarets last Saturday proved to be their 13th in the Premier League since the beginning of the of 2016-17 campaign, which represents four more than any other team in the division.

Should Southampton be aiming to steer clear of the trouble endured last term, Hughes will need to improve their record on the road. Today Southampton will be trying to claim consecutive away wins for the first time since March. Last season, Southampton won only three times on the road in the Premier League, losing eight and drawing eight.

Across the club's 19 Premier League campaigns, Southampton have claimed just two wins during their opening away games of the new season. Those victories came against Coventry and West Bromwich Albion in 1999 and 2013 respectively.

Hughes has actually enjoyed a rather golden spell when coming up against Silva in managerial positions. The Southampton manager has won his two previous managerial meetings with the Portuguese coach in the Premier League.

One man who has enjoyed facing Everton is forward Charlie Austin. The 29-year-old has netted three goals in his three league fixtures against Everton for Saints. The frontman has failed to score one at Goodison Park, though.

Southampton have managed to score just seven goals during their 13-game winless league run away against the Toffees. Saints have failed to score more than once in a game across that period too.

Saints have won just once in 19 Premier League visits to Goodison. The club's last win against Everton on Merseyside came courtesy of a 2-0 victory in November 1997. Across the board, however, Everton have won just once in their last five Premier League encounters with Southampton, drawing two and losing two.

PREDICTION! Everton appear to have bought wisely over the summer and the acquisition of Richarlison already looks like a worthwhile move from the Everton board. The Toffees appeared vibrant in attack against Wolves on the opening weekend and were really hampered after the sending off of Jagielka. Saints seemed disjointed against Burnley, but they did improve as the game wore on in the latter stages. I'm backing Everton to kickstart their home league campaign with a win here. The Blues should have a little too much going forward for Saints.

Coming into his first home game of the season, Silva has been quick to insist that he wants his players to put on a worthwhile show for the fans: "I'm looking forward to [my first home match]. We will be very good for sure. We have to give our fans something special. I am sure the fans will support us every time and we need to give them a reason to support us every time."

Right the players are now emerging from the tunnel, it's already a wonderful atmosphere inside Goodison Park. We will be underway in just a few moments!

Here's a quick recap of the starting XIs before we get moving...

EVERTON STARTING XI: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Baines; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Tosun

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: McCarthy; Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Lemina, Redmond; Austin, Ings

KICKOFF:  Here we go then, Southampton get us moving at Goodison featuring in red and white, while the hosts are in traditional blue and white.

The visitors are enjoying a positive spell of possession early on with Everton sitting back slightly. Redmond makes good inroads down the right and his eventual cross is turned away for a corner before it reaches Austin at the back post.

Pickford shows strong command of his box as the set-piece is turned in by Bertrand, who sees his cross from the left taken out of the air by the young stopper, who leaps above Ings to collect.

CLOSE! Sigurdsson buys a cheap free kick at a teasing distance and his bending delivery into the middle of the box finds Keane rising, but he can only head his effort straight into the arms of McCarthy who does not have to move from the middle of his goal.

Everton are growing into proceedings nicely and a smart piece of link up play between Richarlison and Baines almost sees the full-back break in behind before Stephens gets across to cover. The resulting corner drops kindly for Gueye on the edge of the box, who crashes a thumping volley into the bodies inside the area. That was travelling!

CLOSE!  Ward-Prowse has the chance to deliver a free kick from deep and his ball finds Austin peeling free of young defender Holgate. The striker should at least hit the target, if not score, but can only guide his header wide of the post with Pickford diving helplessly.

It's been an intriguing opening with both sides playing with encouraging pace when going forward. Neither team has really kept hold of possession well in the opening exchanges. A frantic start at Goodison...

Richarlison and Baines seem to be striking a positive partnership already down this left channel. Soares is called into some early action as he gets across to prevent the full-back from moving free into space in behind.

GOAL!  EVERTON 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON (THEO WALCOTT)

Ouch! Hughes will be fuming but what an opener this is... Everton have threatened from set-pieces already and now they make Saints pay with a piece of tactical brilliance. Baines fakes to shoot and instead rolls it short into the path of Schneiderlin, who produces another deft flick into space for Walcott, leaving the winger free to chip the ball over McCarthy and into an empty net.

Saints have been very slow to react despite starting brightly. The visitors need to start moving the ball with a little more pace and purpose. Everton have barely moved out of second gear and already find themselves a goal to the good.

Everton push with a high line and are almost caught out when Ings peels off the shoulder of Keane. The angle is a tight one and Austin is also lurking in the middle, but the striker decides to take it on and lashes a shot over Pickford's bar.

Schneiderlin finds himself on the deck and it looks like a troublesome hamstring issue. The medics are on at the moment and it remains to be seen if the Frenchman will continue here.

SUBSTITUTION: Pure frustration for Schneiderlin who has to be subbed. On comes youngster Tom Davis, which will likely mean Gueye will be required to do a lot more of the defensive work now.

CLOSE!  Southampton should be level... Soares opens up from range and lashes a swerving shot that wrong-foots Pickford. The stopper fumbles the ball straight out into the path of Ings, who has the goal gaping in front of him. Somehow the frontman thumps the loose ball straight against the crossbar from just a matter of yards out. Replays suggest that Pickford actually gets a remarkable hand on the shot. Fantastic keeping, sublime reactions.

Richarlison aims to move for a loose ball inside the area but goes down untouched in what seems like a bit of a freak injury. Southampton pick up possession and break away on the counter, leaving Pickford to rush off his line to help thwart the movement of Austin.

Richarlison is up and moving again and it looks like he'll jump back into the fray in just a few moments. Panic over Everton fans...

Tosun's movement has been impressive in this first half and his guile has helped open up all kinds of space for the likes of Walcott and Sigurdsson to exploit in front of the defence.

GOAL!  EVERTON 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON (RICHARLISON)

Magical stuff from the Toffees as they move two ahead. Coleman drives down the right and slips Walcott into space down the channel. The winger gets his head up and whips a delivery into the middle, where Tosun pulls off a brilliant dummy of a run to free up space for Richarlison. The winger then beats Soares in the air and thumps a powerful header beyond a helpless McCarthy in the Saints goal.

CLOSE!  It all seems about the set pieces today. Everton fall asleep at a corner and leave Ings to rise highest unchecked in the box. The forward should steer his glancing header past Pickford, but can only guide it wide of the far post with the stopper looking beaten.

YELLOW CARD!  Richarlison offers up a little bit of showboating out on the left wing and is clattered by Romeu, who goes straight into the book for a cynical foul.

The resulting free kick allows Baines to swing one in from the left with real whip, leaving Tosun to cause all sorts of trouble in the area. Eventually McCarthy comes off his line to take command although that does not mask some rather tentative defending from the visitors.

CLOSE!  Some strong pressing from Sigurdsson allows the midfielder to rob Ward-Prowse in a dangerous position high up the pitch, but the playmaker cannot find the final ball round the corner to feed Richarlison on the counter. That could have been lights out for Southampton.

Sigurdsson finds himself standing over a free kick from deep but he still comes up with the goods over distance. The playmaker's bending delivery almost finds Tosun rising in the box, but Southampton are able to clear for a corner.

Hughes will likely be having strong words with his charges come the break. Southampton have been second best to everything thus far. Everton have been far from fluid but have profited from being clinical at the crucial moments and going about their business with commendable energy.

We're going to have three minutes of additional time in this first half. The Toffees are cruising as things stand...

Smart work from Everton at the moment as they aim to take any sting out of proceedings as we approach the end of the first period. Davis and Richarlison combine well on the left to earn a free kick off Ward-Prowse.

HALF TIME:  EVERTON 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON

So Everton find themselves in the driving seat at the break and it is no more than the Toffees deserve. Silva's men have not been at full throttle yet but have taken their chances clinically. The hosts are playing with some standout energy too and it's proving far too much for a very disjointed Saints side at the moment.

Southampton have had their chances, mind, and had Ings been a little sharper then Hughes and his men might have found a route back into the contest. The Liverpool loanee has been guilty of passing up at least two standout chances in the first period.

The players are starting to emerge for the second period. Southampton have a lot of work to do should they want to find a route back into this contest!

SECOND HALF! We are moving again at Goodison. Everton are perfectly poised to make use of Richarlison and Walcott's pace on the counter. Saints have a lot to do here...

This is already a little better from Saints who are starting to play with some urgency. Austin aims to break off the shoulder of Holgate, who steps up to catch the frontman offside.

More pressure from the visitors, this time down the right side. Stephens turns in a cross as Austin tries to pin down Holgate, but the youngsters breaks free to head clear. Great defensive work from the youngster!

Ricarlison is having a really promising game out on the left. The youngster once again goes charging down the flank, where he sees his cross into the middle claimed by McCarthy.

GOAL!  EVERTON 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON (DANNY INGS)

We might just have a game on our hands now. Southampton turn a corner towards the front post where Lemina wins the knockdown into the box. Everton's zonal marking allows Ings to drift unmarked into space and turn the ball home from just a few yards out. What a moment for the Liverpool loanee who has suffered greatly in the last few years.

It's Everton who have started to look a little ragged at the back now. Saints haven't changed their setup drastically but the advent of more energy has certainly ruffled a few feathers in the Everton ranks.

SUBSTITUTION: Southampton make a change now as Austin is replaced by fellow forward Shane Long.

YELLOW CARD!  Yet another yellow for the visitors now as Stephens leaves one in on Tosun, who is left sprawled out on the deck for a moment. The Toffees have a free kick in a promising area out on the left wing.

Nothing comes of the set piece, allowing Saints to move up the other end where Pickford has to show quick feet to deal with a dangerous back-pass from Coleman.

Southampton have control of possession at the moment and Everton are slightly on the back foot. Gueye has had a quietly brilliant game in the middle of the park for the hosts, breaking up the play and trying to feed his side on the break whenever possible.

CLOSE!  Richarlison drives into space on the edge of the area and feeds a standout ball in behind for the run of Tosun. The frontman doesn't quite have the pace to make an impact, though, as Stephens gets across to make the interception.

Hughes has clearly encouraged his men to play with a slightly highly line to keep Everton trapped inside their own half. The visitors have been much improved after the break and Everton are now being given a real test of it.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Walcott thinks that he has killed the game off with a wonderful finish. The frontman moves beyond the shoulder of Stephens before guiding the ball delightfully into the net, only for the linesman to have his flagged raised. It's a close, close call.

CLOSE!  This should be the third for Everton and what a miss it is from Walcott! The winger combines brilliant to receive a one-two from Sigurdsson which sets him free inside the box with just the keeper to beat. Walcott gets his head up but can somehow only drag horrible wide of the target with the goal gaping in front of him.

Southampton are still in with a shout here as Hughes piles on his attacking players. The Everton back four are in for a real test in the final 20 minutes of this match.

SUBSTITUTION: Silva makes a move now as Tosun, who has had a brilliant game today, is replaced by youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Pickford has had to be quick with his feet today and the youngster shows more brilliance as he rushes off his line to kick clear under pressure from Ings, who is clattered in the process. Can Everton weather this storm?

Some quick feet from Bertrand allows the left-back to win a promising free kick off Walcott right on the edge of the area on the left side. Perfect territory for the in-swinger...

CLOSE!  Ward-Prowse is over it and sends the ball over the two-man wall but straight into the gloves of Pickford, who reacts smartly to punch clear under pressure on his line.

SHOT!  The crowd urges Gueye to shoot from range and shoot he does... It's a drilled low effort that has McCarthy diving down low, but the keeper always has it covered.

SUBSTITUTION: Richarlison comes off to a standing ovation as he is replaced by Oumar Niasse. It's been a potentially match-winning showing from the young Brazilian.

Southampton's grip on proceedings has drifted slightly as Everton are doing all they can to break up the tempo of this contest. It's working too. We have just a couple of minutes left now with Everton seemingly holding firm.

Silva will be delighted with this as his side are showing some great defensive organisation and tenacity to see this game out. Everton have had to show all sorts of sides to their game across this 90 minutes.

We are going to have an additional five minutes here! Can Southampton throw a late spanner in the works?

Walcott tries to seal it here as he cuts inside from the left channel but can only blaze poorly over the crossbar without testing McCarthy.

FULL TIME:  EVERTON 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON

In the end that's probably what Everton deserve. Southampton were much improved after the break, but the Toffees showed a fantastic defensive side to their game when called upon. This sort of victory could do wonders for the Blues in the early stages of the new campaign. Silva will be delighted with how his charges held out under mounting pressure. That's going to be all from me today, thanks for joining us!