46’ - Second half underway.
Halftime Thoughts - Everton will feel they should be ahead with all the chances they created, but it’s nil-nil at the break.
45+1’ - There’s the halftime whistle.
43’ - Harrison cross comes off Emerson’s arm and ref says no handball, he was outside the box.
Now Beto goes down in the box, and the ref points to the spot! The replay though shows that Beto kicked the ground with his left foot, but then his right foot is stamped on. There will be an on-field review by VAR and this will be chalked off. That’s fair.
Everton FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
39’ - Hammers freekick, Blues struggling to clear their lines but eventually do. Kudus can’t beat Harrison but wins a corner. Ward-Prowse again, goes direct, and straight out.
36’ - Everton have the bulk of the possession here at 53%, the Hammers are happy to play on the counter.
Gana a bit late on Paqueta and the Brazilian is on the ground writhing and screaming. Ref says it doesn’t warrant any action.
33’ - The Toffees are set up outside the Hammers box passing it around, ball comes to JOB in space and he hammers a shot that Areola just about fends away. Another cross eventually blocked and the Blues have their first corner of the game, from the left.
Garner, short to Alcaraz, back to him and a cross to the back post, a bit too deep.
27’ - Argh! O’Brien low cross into the box, and Doucs and Beto get in each other’s way!
Hammers sharp on the counter led by Kilman (!), he finds Bowen who swivels and shoots, straight at Pickford who parries it over the bar.
Ward-Prowse corner from the Everton right, cant beat the first man Myko.
24 - Another cross in, this time from Myko, and Beto’s header fizzes just over! It’s all very simple football, but it’s working right now.
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-WEST HAM
21’ - Chance! Everton counter ball comes free to Harrison on the right, he chooses to cross instead of shooting, Doucs header, Todibo gets in the way and the ball bounces down harmlessly to Areola.
Another chance! Doucs tries to play Beto into space, instead it’s Harrison who is bearing down on the ball, Mavropanos plays it safe with Areola charging out and clears. From the throw-in a cross into the box, Beto heads over!
20’ - Good play on the right sees O’Brien get the edge, ball comes to Harrison for the left-footed cross, deep ball headed down goalwards by Alcaraz, no real power on it and Areola collects. That was a chance.
19’ - The first 15 we pressed hard had them bottled up, now we’re backing up and they’re getting more of the ball and starting to open us up.
Nothing on the attacking front for us, creatively. Looking at our side, can’t expect too much either.
17’ - Now a Doucoure foul by the sideline, and from a similar area West Ham have a freekick that comes to nothing.
15’ - Beto upended on the edge of the attacking third. Garner and Harrison over it, it’s the latter that takes it but it’s too close to Areola who collects under no pressure.
12’ - The first time the Hammers can play through the press they win a corner on their left. Ward-Prowse takes, Bowen’s header deflects off Branthwaite from the six yard line and a brilliant point-blank save from Pickford!! Wow.
7’ - Alcaraz is on the left, Harrison on the right. The Argentine is in the half space with Garner going wider than him. Everton’s press has been pretty fierce, giving the Hammers no time on the ball at all.
Oooh lovely play there. Alcaraz finds Harrison in a central spot outside the box with his back goal, and the wide man swivels with the ball and tries a shot, blocked by Soucek.
5’ - Gana and Alcaraz hunt down Kudus outside his own box and nick the ball, but the ref says foul.
Everton FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
4’ - Brilliant long ball from Branthwaite finds Mykolenko in space, he brings it down but then his cross is woeful and goes out.
1’ - Garner gets us underway, Everton attacking the Park End which is buzzing with banners and flags, thanks to the great work from The 1878s. Ball immediately lumped forward and Beto goes down in the box. Nothing in that, and VAR confirms that.
Just the five games left to play at Goodison Park - the siren has gone off, Z-Cars has played and the players are on the pitch.
Everton - A surprise as David Moyes drops Jesper Lindstrøm and hands the start to Carlos Alcaraz instead. Also, Armando Broja is on the bench.
West Ham - As expected, Potter pretty much has his best lineup available.
Everton are not unbeaten in the last eight league games, but things haven’t been necessarily rosy with half of those results coming as draws. The Toffees have a chance to get back to winning ways against a struggling West Ham outfit that has struggled mightily in the aftermath of David Moyes leaving the Hammers.
The two sides are locked together in the league table, tied on points, and the winner should take all the spoils with nine games left to play in the league after this.
Competition: Premier League Matchweek 29
Date and start time: Saturday, March 15th at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m ET / 3:00 p.m. BST
Stadium: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Capacity: 39,572
Weather: 44°F/7°C, rain showers, 20% chance of precipitation, 8 mph winds
TV: Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO Telemundo - United States ; N/A - United Kingdom;Fubo - Canada, beIN Sports Premium 2, SuperSport Action Africa, Star Sports Select 2
Radio: evertontv, SiriusXM FC
Live stream:Fubo, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, ESPN Play Sur, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, DStv Now, RUSH, Hotstar VIP, JioTV
Gamethread: There will be a live blog for this game, with our coverage continuing after the final whistle with the match recap and reaction.
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Information from LiveSoccerTV.com
The Blues had fought out a scoreless draw with today’s opponents in the earlier leg of this game in London. Last season though they were soundly beaten 3-1 at Goodison Park with Beto getting the lone goal for the Blues.