Good afternoon everyone and welcome to LIVE comments from Goodison Park, where Everton are hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Howard feels compelled to push away a speculative cross for a corner - and Villa can keep on the pressure. Ashley Young's deliveries not quite hitting the mark yet.

Luke Young makes a good burst forward and slides a low ball in from the byline - nobody gets to it - Everton now finding themselves on the back foot.

A teased ball from Luke Young down the line to Bent - not quite on the money, and it runs out for an Everton goal kick.

Corner just out of Dunne's reach. A better few moments for the Villans after Everton had threatened to take control of the match.

Villa win a corner as Downing's cross is blocked by Baines - credit to Young to find the England winger with a superb ball to the right.

Poor cross from Reo-Coker - overhit chip which drops out on the full. Wasted for Villa.

EVERTON CLOSE AGAIN! Big chances - Baines and Coleman swap passes before the latter cracks a shot which Friedel saves well - Osman offside as the next shot bounces against the post - Everton have been very close already and Villa are wobbling.

BECKFORD SHOULD SCORE! FRIEDEL MAKES A GOOD SAVE! A terrible header backwards from Walker into no-man's land - Friedel can't get there, Beckford is in space, and the Everton striker rushes his shot, allowing the American to tip around the corner.

Teasing cross from Agbonlahor on the left, after easing away from Jagielka. It's just out of Howard's reach, but fortunately for the Toffees it evades Bent as well.

Freidel with a goal-kick. Everton have spent more time in the final third than their opponents, but have done less with the ball once they are there.

DOWNING! Great play from the winger, who's begun his afternoon on the right hand side - he skips through two challenges, cuts into the box, and it takes a block from Distin to deny him a superb solo goal.

Hibbert makes a strong header to stop a hopeful ball floated forward from a free-kick - the ball zips down towards Beckford on the right but beyond his reach.

Heitinga tries to place it into the corner, but it flicks the outside of the wall and pops away safely enough.

Osman brought down trying to turn past Dunne. Decent free-kick chance to the left of centre - Heitinga lining it up.

Houllier looks fairly anxious on the touchline - which is understandable. It's been a very rough few weeks, and he has yet to convince the club's fans he is the man for the job. Big performance desperately required.

Leighton Baines nips in at the back when Beckford and Collins both jump for - and miss - a header. Walker does well to shepherd him out of harm's way.

Play begins! Villa kick off, Mike Jones is our referee.

And we noted Darren Bent's landmark for Villa, but this match also marks 10 years of Tony Hibbert in an Everton shirt.

Three players on the Everton bench from the youth side without a game between them. The Toffees are threadbare today.

Extraordinary to think that on a sunny day in August Villa won the corresponding fixture in the league.

Sprinklers are still on at Goodison Park - will it give the pitch a little extra zip? It's a pleasant April afternoon, both sides have a chance to play some open, passing football.