Everton

We're now less than an hour away from kick-off between Everton and Watford at Goodison Park.

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You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time.

Rafa Benitez makes two changes to the side that lost to West Ham, with Anthony Gordon and Tom Davies in for Abdoulaye Doucouré and Alex Iwobi.

Everton starting XI: Pickford, Coleman, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Townsend, Davies, Allan, Gordon; Gray, Rondon.

Substitutes: Begovic, Lonergan, Kenny, Holgate, Richarlkison, Iwobi, Gbamin, Dobbin,

Image source, BBC Sport

There are changes to Watford's starting line up from the side that were thrashed by Liverpool, with Jeremy Ngakia, Joshua King and Ozan Tufan brought in for Danny Rose, Emmanuel Dennis and Kiko Femenia by Claudio Ranieri.

Watford starting XI: Foster, Nkagia, Ekong, Cathcart, Tufan, Masina; KIng, Kucka, Sissoko, Hernandez; Sarr.

Substitutes: Bachmann, Lauza, Cleverley, Pedro, Sema, Nkoulou, Gosling, Fletcher, Dennis.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Lawrenson takes on Elena Cole and Haydn Craven, stars of football drama Jamie Johnson, for the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

I'm not sure what Watford were trying to do in their 5-0 defeat by Liverpool last weekend, in Claudio Ranieri's first game as Hornets boss.

They made it so easy for Liverpool, and didn't even start to try to play until they were 4-0 down.

Watford have to do more here, but I don't think this is a good time for them to play Everton, who were beaten at home by former manager David Moyes' West Ham at the weekend.

We will see a reaction from Rafa Benitez's side too, that's for sure. I know they are still without Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front, but they should still win this one.

Elena's prediction: I've got to go for the Everton win, haven't I? We've made a good start to the season, but we just need to keep it up. I don't think we will make the top four, but we can finish in the top six. 2-0

Haydn's prediction: Elena went for an Everton win? That won't happen - no chance! 1-1

Find out how Lawro, Elena and Haydn think the rest of this week's fixtures will go

Mike Hughes, BBC Radio Merseyside

Everton and Watford both suffered home defeats last weekend. While the Hornets' 5-0 surrender to Liverpool was clearly more painful for their supporters, there have also been seismic aftershocks for Everton fans to endure.

After the 1-0 defeat by West Ham, the Blues have been hit by a hammer blow injury wise. Abdoulaye Doucoure has a foot injury that will sideline him for six weeks or more. Added to that, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had a setback in his recovery from a quadricep injury and is facing an extended period out of action.

Everton’s squad was threadbare enough without losing another two key players. There is a glimmer of sunshine on the horizon though; Richarlison could be ready to return to the starting line-up against his former club.

Against West Ham, Everton lacked a sense of purpose and direction - an important building block for them under Rafa Benitez so far.  The drive and energy that has been the hallmark of their early season form needs restoring.

Watford will be better prepared for this game, with Claudio Ranieri having had more time to spend with his players. For Everton, on paper at least, the fixtures get much more difficult from this point onwards and 'seizing the day' is of prime importance at Goodison tomorrow.

Everton forward Richarlison is back in full training and could play after a five-match absence with a knee injury.

Abdoulaye Doucoure is out with a fractured metatarsal, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem.

Watford forward Joshua King has recovered from a knee injury but Kiko Femenia is a doubt.

Francisco Sierralta, Christian Kabasele and Peter Etebo are definitely unavailable.

Who makes your Everton team this weekend?

Pick and share your Watford XI here

Giulia Bould, BBC Radio Merseyside

Rafael Benitez has been speaking before his side's Premier League home game against Watford on Saturday.

The key lines from the Everton boss:

• No timeframe is being put on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recovery from a thigh injury but Benitez expects his star striker to be out for another “four or five weeks, depending on how he reacts to treatment";

• Everton now have Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph in the treatment room and the manager admitted “it is difficult to manage and we are trying to find solutions but little by little we are bringing back some players”;

• Better news as Richarlison has returned to full training.  Benitez said: “The match fitness is an issue but he is happy and he is available";

• Benitez also praised new Watford manager Claudio Ranieri: “I have known him a long time and he always had energy.  He loves football so he has passion. I am happy as he brings something to the Premier League.”

Follow all of Friday's news conferences and Premier League build-up

West Ham recorded a 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in the latest round of Premier League fixtures - but who were the top fantasy football performers from the match?

The bonus points all went to West Ham players;

• Angelo Ogbonna (3)

• Kurt Zouma (2)

• Aaron Cresswell & Ben Johnson (1)

So which Toffees and Hammers players - if any - should be making it into your team for gameweek nine? Don't forget this week's deadline is 18:30 BST on Friday before Arsenal face Aston Villa.

Read Alistair Bruce-Ball's fantasy football tips to find out

And listen to the Fantasy 606 podcast on BBC Sounds

Everton boss Rafael Benitez is due to speak to the media at about 13:15 BST on Friday.

Catch up with all the key lines from his news conference on this page later.

Follow Friday’s news conferences and all the Premier League build-up

Everton want to sign Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard, 28, in January. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the club did not receive a bid from Everton for Netherlands midfielder Donny van de Beek, despite speculation. (RTL7, via Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Everton host Watford in the Premier League this weekend - but what happened when the two teams last met in the top flight?

Theo Walcott struck an injury-time winner as 10-man Everton came back from two goals down to beat Watford 3-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter at Vicarage Road in February 2020.

Goals from Adam Masina and Roberto Pereyra had put Watford in control but Toffees central defender Yerry Mina scored twice in first-half added time to level it.

Everton were reduced to 10 men following Fabian Delph's dismissal for two yellow cards but Walcott finished off a late counter-attack, as Watford pressed for the winner, to clinch the points.

Everton have been boosted by the return of Richarlison to full training as the Toffees prepare for Saturday's match against Watford.

The Brazilian forward has missed Everton's last five matches with a knee injury sustained in the win over Burnley last month.

It is a welcome bit of good news on the injury front for Rafael Benitez's side after Abdoulaye Doucoure picked up a foot injury against West Ham last weekend, while forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a setback in his recovery from a quad injury.

• Everton have lost eight home league games so far in 2021, with the Toffees last losing more at Goodison Park in a calendar year in 2005 (nine).

• Watford have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League away games (won one), failing to score on seven occasions in that run.

• Meanwhile, Watford’s last six Premier League away wins have been against sides with an average position of 18th in the league table. The Hornets haven’t won away against a side in the top half of the Premier League since December 2018 (2-0 vs West Ham), drawing two, losing 13 and conceding 41 goals in their 15 such games since.

Everton have confirmed the next step of building work at the site of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has begun.

A process known as piling, external is under way that will form the foundations for the north and south stands, with that work expected to continue until the summer of 2022.

The in-filling of the dock, which began at the start of this month, is expected to be complete by the start of next year, after which further piling work will be able to begin.

The Toffees hope to be in their new 52,888-capacity stadium in time for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Image source, Getty Images

• Everton have never lost a home game to Watford in any competition (13 wins, two draws) – it’s the most they’ve ever faced a side at home without defeat in their history.

• Watford have won three of their past eight league games against Everton (one draw, four defeats), more than they had in their first 18 such meetings with the Toffees (two wins, three draws, 13 defeats). However, they lost home and away against them in their last Premier League campaign of 2019-20.

• Everton have lost five of their past eight home Premier League games against newly-promoted sides (two wins, one draw), including two of their three last season (v Leeds and Fulham). Indeed, since 2018-19, this is the most such defeats of any side, with Leicester City next on three.

Everton host Watford in the latest round of Premier League fixtures on Saturday, but who will make it into Rafael Benitez's starting XI?

You'll be able to pick - and share on social media - your own line-up for every Premier League game throughout the campaign.

It's up to you how to approach it - you could go for the team you WANT the boss to pick or the one you THINK he will.

Either way, it's time to choose your Toffees team to face Watford