Everton are involved in a fixture of the highest importance on Saturday afternoon as Southampton travel to Merseyside for a crunch Premier League contest.
Both teams currently find themselves in the relegation places after a poor run of results and will require no reminding just how valuable three points could prove in this Goodison Park affair.
The Saints head into this match on the back on an inspired Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph over Manchester City, a result which may well have galvanised Nathan Jones' group as they look to beat the drop.
There is also expected to be a sit-in protest from Everton fans following the full-time whistle, as part of the 'All Together Now' campaign, with the coalition of fans' groups wanting the club's owner Farhad Moshiri to acknowledge their concerns about the direction of the Blues, outlining a number of changes they want made. Here is all you need to know ahead of the game.
What time is kick-off?
Everton's home meeting with Southampton is due to commence at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, the traditional start time for fixtures within English football.
Is the match on TV?
No. As the game is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off, it will not be shown on the television. The 3pm blackout has been in place since the 1960s and prevents matches from being televised in the UK.
The football blackout is the rule that no Premier League, Football League or FA Cup matches can be shown live on a Saturday between 2:45pm and 5:15pm.
Reports last year suggested the EFL would consider lifting the blackout in their TV rights sale, from 2024/25 onwards, with EFL chairman Rick Parry stating in 2021 they would remain "open-minded" about new approaches to broadcasting.
“We are almost unique in Europe now in having a blackout period," said Parry. "I’m not presuming that it (3pm blackout) goes, but equally, if we’re looking at streaming, at new technologies and new broadcasters, we will probably have to be open-minded in terms of scheduling."
How else can I follow the match?
We will be providing live coverage on proceedings from Goodison Park courtesy of our Everton reporters, Chris Beesley and Joe Thomas. Our live match blog will be up and running in the early afternoon on the Everton section of our website as we keep you up to date on team news, with in-game updates and post-match analysis to follow.
Where can I watch the highlights?
Sky Sports will be showing highlights of all the day's Premier League action on their YouTube channel immediately after the game has finished. Alternatively, tune in to Match of the Day on BBC One from 10.30pm on Saturday evening.
Early team news
Alex Iwobi is in contention for a surprise appearance one week on from the injury he sustained in Everton's FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester United. This game comes too soon for James Garner, however, who is expected to be sidelined until next month.
Positive news was shared regarding Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will be hopeful of leading the line as the Blues go in search of a much-needed three points.
"Dominic has had a good week. We played three games in six days going into Manchester United so we had to be careful with that one," said Everton manager Frank Lampard.
“He’s in a good place, he’s had a nice week training, we’ve been managing him as well as we possibly can so he’s in a good place, he’s fit."
READ NEXT:
- Frank Lampard explains Everton transfer delay and makes January intentions clear
- Timothy Weah transfer could provide the supply line Everton's strikers desperately need
- 'The people are all heart' - the day Everton fans embraced Hollywood superstar as one of their own
- 'I don't need more' - Everton manager Frank Lampard responds to Farhad Moshiri claim and fan protest
- 'On the back-burner' - Leon Osman sends blunt message to Frank Lampard before crucial Everton clash
