Hello all! It's good to be back isn't it? After a fortnight of international football, the Premier League has returned. There are seven top-flight fixtures taking place this afternoon, but here, we will be focusing on the clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park.

Everton boast a strong record against the Hammers as they're currently unbeaten in their last 13 matches against the London club, but due to West Ham's form this season, could this be the best time to end that record? Before we delve into the match itself, let's take a look at the team news, which has just filtered through from Goodison...

EVERTON XI: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Hibbert; McCarthy, Osman; Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith; Lukaku

Everton substitutes: Robles, Eto'o, Besic, Atsu, Browning, Garbutt, Ledson

The big news for Everton, albeit not unexpected, is that Leighton Baines has been ruled out of today's action due to a hamstring injury. Tony Hibbert has entered the fray in his place, while Leon Osman and Kevin Naismith also get places in the first team.

Despite a number of injuries, which has resulted in Gareth Barry's exclusion from the squad, hampering the Everton, the good news is that Kevin Mirallas is back following a stint on the sidelines. The Belgian starts this afternoon, while Aiden McGeady is out of the matchday squad and Samuel Eto'o is placed on the bench.

WEST HAM XI: Adrian; Reid, Cresswell, Collins, Jenkinson; Nolan, Tomkins, Noble; Amalfitano, Cole; Carroll

West Ham substitutes: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, Zarate, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Demel, Lletget

For the travelling side this afternoon, Andy Carroll is given his first start this season following injury problems, which resulted in him missing the first few months of the season. Despite his lack of match fitness, Carroll has been thrown into the team due to injuries to Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia. Alex Song is also missing through injury, as is Stewart Downing, who has been in impressive form this season.

Kevin Nolan, James Tomkins, Morgan Amalfitano and Carlton Cole all enter the lineup, while Cheikhou Kouyate is also missing for Allardyce this afternoon.

So, it's safe to say that both teams are dealing with injury problems at the moment, which could play a pivotal role in the result. West Ham are likely to be the most affected as they are without their influential summer arrivals, and with Carroll having just one substitute appearance under his belt, there's a lot of pressure on his shoulders to get goals this afternoon.

Last season, Sam Allardyce's job was in jeopardy, but it's a stark contrast in this campaign as his side sit pretty in fourth place having had their joint-best start to a Premier League season by taking 18 points from their opening 11 matches.

Despite the injury woes for today's game, Nolan is feeling positive on Merseyside. The midfielder has been quotes by the club's official Twitter account as saying: "I'm delighted to back. It's been a long old few weeks, but the boys have been brilliant so I haven't been moaning to the gaffer! Hopefully we can continue our form today. We're five unbeaten and hopefully we can make it six today."

Nolan went on to say that he hoped Everton hadn't "tightened up at the back" following their leaky defence at the start of the campaign - they let in 16 goals in their first seven league matches. However, the Toffees have looked more secure in their last few games having conceded just two in their last four.

Goals at the other end have been a problem for the Merseyside outfit, given that they have won just three out of 11 games so far in the top flight. They've suffered three defeats, but draws have dominated their campaign so far. Tenth-placed Everton need to start picking up the points if they want to grab a place in Europe this season and their five draws so far won't be hugely beneficial.

Interestingly, James McCarthy has been declared fit for this afternoon's encounter. Martinez was forced to defend his players this week after Republic of Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane accused Everton of putting pressure on their players not to perform on international duty due to fears of aggravating injury niggles. McCarthy pulled out of the Ireland squad last week with a hamstring problem, but he starts today. I wonder what Keane will think of that!

It's a special day for Everton's Leon Osman as he will make his 400th appearance this afternoon. I'm sure he'll be hoping that he can cap off that milestone with a victory!

Despite West Ham having five first-team players out injured, Allardyce and his players looked relaxed when arriving at Goodison on a gloomy day in Merseyside.

Earlier this week, Allardyce seemed to have his injury list in mind when he called for a winter break, which is adopted by a number of European countries. He told reporters: "The load of constant performance at the highest level takes its toll across the whole of the Premier League. The demand on the players is so great for so long that eventually they're going to break down.

"If you look at the load placed this year on players, it's greater than ever before. We still don't look after our players as well as other countries because we don't put in a couple of weeks break in January for everybody to re-charge the batteries."

Both teams head into today's match on unbeaten runs - Everton have picked up points from their last four games, while West Ham haven't been beaten in five. The Hammers can put pressure on third-placed Manchester City with a triumph, while Everton could move towards the top seven with all three points.

PREDICTION: With just over 10 minutes to go until kickoff, I think it's time to consider how this game will turn out. West Ham's current form arguably gives them a better chance than any to end their poor record against Everton, especially with the Toffees not being in the best of form themselves. However, due to the Hammers' injury list and the fact that they are playing at Everton's home, I back the Toffees to nab a 2-1 victory.

I'm not the only one in the Sports Mole team who has been making predictions for this clash. Our Sofa panellists Pascal Lemesre and Barney Corkhill have given their views, which you can watch in the video below:

So, we're edging closer to kick-off. The players are in the tunnel and about to make their way out onto the Goodison pitch to get the contest going!

KICK-OFF! Everton get us underway, kicking from right to left...

An early attack from Everton as Barkley plays a smooth low ball towards Mirallas, which soared past West Ham's back line. The Belgian picked up the ball and looked to take on Adrian, but the flag went up for offside.

West Ham have barely touched the ball in these early stages. Everton look comfortable in possession and Barkley is trying to cause some trouble. Lukaku picks the ball up in the box and plays it back to Barkley, but the midfielder's cross flies well wide and into the stands.

At the other end, West Ham go on the counter-attack with Jenkinson, who lofts the ball into the box looking for Carroll, but goalkeeper Howard is able to collect in the air, despite some pressure from the Hammers' striker.

Everton are getting a lot of freedom in the middle of the park at the moment. West Ham are failing to close down the men in blue, but on the other hand, the home side are yet to launch a serious effort on goal.

Carroll delivers a perfect cross-field pass to Jenkinson at the other end. The Arsenal loanee hits the ball into the area looking for Carroll and Jagielka is forced to make the clearance. Despite not having much of the ball in these early stages, West Ham have looked dangerous in the final third.

Carroll has been making himself a nuisance so far and it looks to be a physical battle with the former Liverpool man back in the side. Almost 10 minutes in and Everton have had 80% of possession, but they're struggling to get past the halfway line.

The Hammers get the first free kick of the game from referee Mark Clattenburg after Lukaku nudged Noble in the back.

A half-chance for West Ham as the ball is lofted into the box to find the head of Carroll. The striker connects with the ball and gets there ahead of Distin, but he fails to control it and it flies sky high over the bar.

At the other end, Naismith finds Lukaku in space on the edge of the area, but the Belgian's effort towards goal bounces in front of Adrian, which infuriates Naismith as he wanted his teammate to play the ball back to him. It's not quite happening for Everton at the moment.

It doesn't seem like either side want the ball at the moment! Both teams have given away the ball in the space of a few minutes. They can't keep that up because one moment of sloppiness could prove costly.

Barkley just summed up Everton's play so far in this match. The home side looked to be on a dangerous counter-attack, but as the midfielder stormed down the right-hand side, he drove the ball out of play without any pressure from a West Ham player.

CHANCE! What a golden opportunity for the home side! Osman plays a perfect through ball towards Coleman, who plays it back towards Naismith from the byline, but the Scotsman's effort flies high over the crossbar. A great chance that goes missing. Naismith should have hit the target at least!

Dear oh dear! Barkley should be embarrassed when he watches this moment back. The midfielder wins a free kick which should never have been because the England international flung himself to ground with no contact whatsoever. Nolan is the one penalised, but he is furious with his opponent for play-acting.

Justice was done as Mirallas's free kick failed to reach anyone, but Everton have upped the pace by piling pressure in the West Ham box.

CHANCE! Naismith gets another chance to open the scoring after driving to the byline and trying to sneak it past the near post, but Adrian is able to get a toe on it to keep the ball out.

Everton take the lead following a slice of luck after Barkley's shot gets deflected off the back of Reid, who plays Lukaku onside. The Belgian picks up the ball and with Adrian on the wrong side, the striker is able to smash the ball into the back of the net.

Everton are getting into their stride now as a lovely back-heel from Lukaku finds Coleman in the box, who knocks it back searching for Naismith but West Ham get enough bodies in the area to snuff out the chance.

Jenkinson has had plenty of space down the right-hand side. He delivers another cross into the box and finds Carroll, who scissor-kicks it behind to find a teammate, but Everton are able to do enough to clear the danger.

CHANCE! Amalfitano wastes West Ham's biggest opportunity after Distin gives it away in a dangerous area. Nolan lays the ball off for his teammate, but Amalfitano's effort flies wide of the left post.

Howard's woeful clearance gives West Ham possession and Cresswell fires a perfect cross into the area, but no-one attacks it. Seconds later, Jenkinson cuts in from the right to deliver a low pass to Carroll, but he's falling as he meets the ball and his shot flies high over the crossbar.

The home crowd are getting frustrated with Everton's defensive decisions. The ball has been given away numerous times in the last few minutes by the back four, but so far, they've survived.

GOAL RULED OUT! At the other end, Lukaku gets the ball in the back of the net after a counter from Naismith, but as the ball is delivered, the Belgian is offside. The striker is furious with the decision, but replays show that the forward was definitely in an offside position.

Naismith has been lucky not to be given a yellow card for a challenge on Noble. The West Ham midfielder goes down after Naismith clatters into him from behind, but a free kick is all that is given. Nolan takes the set piece, but Howard is able to grab the ball in the air and clear the danger.

BOOKINGS! Oh dear, there's a lot of handbags being thrown here! West Ham express their anger when Amalfitano gets brought down by McCarthy. In fairness, it's an awful challenge from the Irishman as he launches into Amalfitano. He's lucky not to be given a red, but he escapes with just a yellow. Reid also goes into the book for his angry reaction, but the West Ham players are still protesting.

Tensions are rising here. We expected a physical afternoon, but let's hope that all players stay on the pitch!

Coleman gets some space down the right, and as he tries to drive inside, he delivers a sloppy pass, which gives West Ham possession.

CHANCE! Carroll shows great strength and composure to get away from his marker, but his shot at goal lets him down. He fails to reach the target and it goes bouncing behind the line for a goal kick.

So, Everton head into the half-time interval with a slender 1-0 lead and the break couldn't have come at a better time with tensions rising following McCarthy's reckless tackle. Do the home side deserve to be winning? Well, they took some time to find their feet, but with the help of Osman in the middle of the park, the Toffees began to pile on the pressure. Everton were rewarded by a Lukaku goal, but you feel that West Ham aren't out of this contest yet.

The home side are lucky to still have McCarthy on the pitch following a dangerous tackle on Amalfitano, but the midfielder is on a yellow so he'll have to be careful in the second half. For West Ham, they have shown intent going forward and Carroll has been a nuisance at times, but they are yet to create any real danger.

For the next 45 minutes, both sides need to cut out their sloppy passing. The ball was given away numerous times in the first half and Everton's defence looks shaky at times. If Carroll improves on his finishing, you can see West Ham getting back into this contest, but Everton look strong on the counter and if Lukaku wasn't offside, the home side would have a two-goal advantage.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Here we go then, West Ham get the match restarted, kicking from right to left...

Barkley gets dispossessed in West Ham's half and the ball is booted up towards Carroll, but it goes over the striker and bounces into the hands of Howard. The away side will want to strike early to keep themselves in this game.

Neither side have had a chance at goal in these early stages, and once again the ball has been given away cheaply. Everton have had most of the ball in their own half and are struggling to break down the Hammers.

SUBSTITUTIONS: West Ham make a double change as Zarate and Jarvis enter the field in place of Cole and Noble, who limps off the field.

Zarate drives into the area, but his cross gets knocked out for a corner kick. It gets delivered in and the West Ham players are shouting for a hand ball, but replays show that the ball in fact hits Barkley's chest.

Another cross from Jenkinson gets delivered into the box from the right, but the Arsenal man has failed to make his opportunities count as Howard once again is the first to the ball.

Zarate will claim the equaliser for West Ham, but he got a huge slice of luck from Jagielka. The Hammers substitute finds space on the edge of the box, he goes for goal, but the ball bounces off the toe of Jagielka. Howard is slightly off his line, but there's not much that the goalkeeper can do as it flies over his head and into the back of the net. Game on!

West Ham are trying to pile on the pressure after being lifted by their equaliser. Howard is forced to push the ball away after it's bounced into the box. The home side try to counter with Mirallas, but the Belgian gives the ball away.

BOOKINGS! More handbags! Mirallas gets booked for a tackle on Amalfitano, but the frustration is showing as he and Tomkins get into a bit of a scuffle. The West Ham man holds his face for some reason, and gets a yellow as punishment.

CHANCE! Naismith does well to chest down the ball and find the run of Lukaku in the box. The Belgian goes for goal from an acute angle near the left post, but his effort flies over the bar.

Zarate has become a nuisance since coming on. He manages to find Cresswell, who fires in a cross, but gets cleared by Distin. Seconds later, Zarate gets the ball back and delivers the ball in the area looking for Carroll, but Howard is able to get there first.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton make their first change of the game as Mirallas makes way for Eto'o.

Zarate is involved again as he storms down the left-hand side and forces a tackle from Barkley, who gives away a free kick. Zarate delivers it into the box to find Carroll, who knocks a perfectly weighted ball to Amalfitano, who goes to goal searching for the bottom left corner, but it just bobbles wide.

The game could go either way, but after the last 10 minutes or so, West Ham are just edging ahead and look the more likely to take the lead.

Jarvis goes one-on-one with Jagielka in the area, but instead of playing it across goal to Carroll, the substitute goes for glory and misses the target at the left near post.

GOAL! Everton 2-1 West Ham (Osman)

This could be a perfect night for Osman as he scores on his 400th appearance! On the counter-attack, Lukaku gets brought down, but the referee plays the advantage as Eto'o collects the ball and delivers a perfect low cross into the box to find Osman, who slots it into the back of the net.

SUBSTITUTION: Collins goes in the book for bringing down Lukaku during the build-up to Everton's second goal.

SAVE! Howard maintains Everton's lead after Carroll aims towards goal, but inadvertently finds Collins in front of the net. He tries to tap it in, but Howard is there to block with his feet.

The atmosphere is building in the stadium as Everton try to keep possession, but you feel that West Ham are not out of this game quite yet.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton bring off Barkley, who doesn't look too happy to hear his name being called, and bring on Besic.

SUBSTITUTION: West Ham make their final change of the game as Vaz Te comes on to replace Amalfitano.

Everton show their blistering pace as Naismith turns to find Lukaku, but the Belgian takes the wrong option as he tries to curl the ball into the net from the right side, but it misses the target.

West Ham are awarded a corner, which is lofted into the area to find Carroll, who unleashes a header. It goes wide for a goal kick, but the striker is claiming that it came off Naismith - the referee is having none of it.

We have a break in play as Clattenburg gets ordered off the pitch to either change his shirt or take off some jewellery? We're not quite clear, but as that goes on, Naismith is receiving some treatment.

It doesn't look like good news for Naismith as he is stretchered off holding his thigh. At the moment, Everton are down to 10 men.

SUBSTITUTION: The home side can make their final change as Atsu replaces Naismith.

West Ham are on the frontfoot, but their quality of ball in the final third has been lacking. Are we going to witness a late equaliser? The Hammers have five added minutes to find it.

At the other end, Coleman drives into the box and unleashes a left-footed shot, which gets blocked by Cresswell and out for a corner.

MISS! I doubt Eto'o would have a grin on his face if his side weren't close to snatching three points. The Cameroonian has the ball at his feet in the penalty area, but he fails to get his effort on target as the ball drags wide of the post.

Well, that was an eventful game to say the least! Everton take home all three points following goals from Romelu Lukaku and Leon Osman. Despite Mauro Zarate getting on the scoresheet, the Hammers couldn't do enough to get something out of the game. It could be argued that both James McCarthy and James Collins should have been sent off, but both finished the game on yellows. That's all from me, but stick around on Sports Mole for analysis, player ratings and reaction from this afternoon's matches. Thank you for joining us, and until next time, goodbye!