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Kristian Walsh and the team will be with you today from 10am to ensure constant coverage of all things Blue, including news, great photos, nostalgia, live interviews and much more.
Alex Rea will then join the fun from 3pm to take you all the way through to 11pm to ensure you are always updated on all the breaking news from Goodison.
There will be polls, stats and live webchats with our EFC reporter Greg O’Keeffe each week, plus the inside line from Finch Farm as we bring you every press conference and interview.
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That’s all for today. Thanks for joining us. We’ll be back at 1pm tomorrow with all the build-up as the Blues take on Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Roberto Martinez was left to bemoan the ‘inconsistency’ of referee Lee Mason as Everton FC fell to a Boxing Day defeat at home to Stoke City.
“I think the decision on Jon Walters is a difficult one to understand,” said the Everton boss.
“The referee sees an infringement and gives a free-kick he can understand Leighton Baines is running through, he is outside the box and there is no other Stoke defender.
“He is the last man, it is a clear goal-scoring opportunity. I don’t understand why it is a yellow card. It is a red card or nothing.
“That is something we had, with the same referee, at Sunderland.”
A big statement of intent would be a early signing next month, everyone needs it
— Peter Mcpartland (@PED7) December 27, 2014
A great photo and one of the only positives from yesterday, it has to be said.
Merry Christmas Evertonians ??
— Gerard Deulofeu (@gerardeulofeu) December 27, 2014
Jack Colback has urged Newcastle United to check out of 2014 with a display of “fighting” spirit against Everton at St James’ Park.
He told the Chronicle after the 3-1 loss at Manchester United: “We have come out at St James’ fighting, which prior to Sunderland was a good place for us.
“We have to try to get the win against Everton.
“It’s a good chance for us.”
Small mercies and all that…
Managed 2 pints at half time yesterday, so it’s not all doom and gloom
— Executioner’s Bong (@executionerbong) December 27, 2014
Analysis from Phil Kirkbride over Everton’s winter of growing discontent following the 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke.
Phil writes: “The Boxing Day challenge presented to Everton was all too familiar.
“One-nil down from the penalty spot and forced to spend the majority of the game without the use of first-choice goalkeeper Tim Howard, the Blues had been here before.
“But where they valiantly failed to breakdown Sunderland last year they worryingly never looked like getting back into it against Stoke City.
“Vito Mannone had to produce a heroic performance to help ensure an under siege Black Cats held onto their narrow lead against the 10 men Blues at Goodison 12 months ago.
“But fast forward a year and Asmir Begovic had a fraction of the work to do to make certain Stoke did the same – and this time Everton had all their players on the pitch.”
No punches pulled from Gareth Barry, who rued the Blues’ inability to take their chances against Stoke.
He said: “Overall we are disappointed and frustrated. It was one of those games.
“We had a few chances in the first half that we didn’t take and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way and off the back of them we find ourselves going behind to a penalty and that proved to be the winning goal.
“We are frustrated but at the same time we know we can do better.”
Everton’s Gareth Barry is shown a yellow card by Referee Lee Mason which is his one hundredth booking in the Premier League during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool
We begin with Greg O’Keeffe’s match report. It may not make pleasant reading, but it details exactly what went wrong at Goodison Park.
“Boxing Day at Goodison contained enough bah-humbug to make Old Ebeneezer proud,” he writes. It certainly had those Evertonians bold enough to brave the elements reaching for the sherry bottle and feeling precious little festive goodwill by the end.”
Everton’s Leighton Baines (left) and Stoke City’s Charlie Adam speak during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool
Good morning and welcome to the Everton FC liveblog. Not much festive cheer around Goodison Park, sadly, after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Stoke City. We’ll bring all the latest in the fallout from that result, as well as all the news and views ahead of the game with Newcastle.
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