Live updates from Everton reporter Phil Kirkbride and editor Greg O’Keeffe at Goodison Park as the Toffees look to finish the job against Young Boys of Berne.
Here’s a belter from the always reliable @Gavin Buckland1. The last time Everton were at home in Europe and Liverpool away on the same night … was the magnificent 1985 Cup Winners Cup semi-final night when the Blues beat Bayern and Liverpool beat Panathinaikos in the European Cup.
1st time #efc at home and #LFC away in Europe on same day since 24/4/1985, #efc beat Bayern Munich (ECWC semi) & #lfc beat Panathinaikos
— Gavin Buckland (@GavinBuckland1) February 26, 2015
By the way … Dinamo Moscow have turned it round against Anderlecht and lead 2-1 with a couple of minutes left. Ajax look like joining them in the last 16. They lead 3-0 in Legia Warsaw. Zenit will also be going through, while Celtic have had Virgil van Dijk sent off in the San Siro against Inter where it’s 0-0 close to half-time.
And finally, it’s goals galore in Moenchengladbach where the Germans and Seville are 2-2 at half-time, with Borussia trying to pull back a 1-0 first leg deficit.
PHOTO: Inside the #EFC dressing room. What starting XI are you predicting tonight, Blues? #EFCvBSC #UEL pic.twitter.com/gwdpoQuWkD
— Everton (@Everton) February 26, 2015
Can you make out the names and numbers in the Blues dressing room? I think we can safely say that Lukaku and Mirallas are in the squad for tonight!
We already have goal action in tonight’s Europa League.
Anderlecht, where Everton ‘enjoyed’ a lively pre-season friendly (lively off the pitch that is) a few years ago have taken the lead in Moscow against Dinamo. Aleksandar Mitrovi? has scored against the run of play. The first leg in Belgium ended 0-0.
And Zenit have doubled their first leg advantage over PSV Eindhoven in Russia and now look firm favourites to reach the last 16. Everton beat Zenit 1-0 in December 2007, in the strange old days of five team groups so the Blues never got to go to St Petersburg for a second leg! This time maybe?
Here’s some footage complete with Russian commentary.
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But we don’t want any Frosty business – or drama at Goodison Park tonight. Nice straightforward progress into the Europa League’s Round of 16 if you please Toffees – then we can look forward to tomorrow lunchtime’s draw in Nyon.
I’ll be with you all night and beyond bringing you updates from our Everton correspondent Phil Kirkbride, our Everton Editor Greg O’Keeffe and our Everton reporter for the night Chris Beesley. Me? I suppose I’m what you’d call the Everton Co-ordinator for the night in Old Hall Street. But at least it’s warm.
The last time The Toffees got as far as the last 16 of a European competition was in 2008, when Fiorentina won a UEFA Cup penalty shoot-out at Goodison Park. Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are still with the Blues from that night – and while Roberto Martinez has already confirmed that Tim Howard will be playing tonight, Osman and Pienaar may also return.
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