Image source, Getty Images

We are under way on the pitch and there are some interested spectators in the Goodison Park crowd.

England boss Sam Allardyce is sitting next to Republic of Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane, although Seamus Coleman is missing through injury and Jon Walters is on the bench.

But it is a big day for Ross Barkley, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka with Big Sam set to pick his first England squad later this weekend.

This game ended 3-4 in Stoke's favour last year and their boss Mark Hughes hopes for a repeat.

He said: "We enjoy going [to Goodison Park]. We had a fantastic game there last season.

"Clearly the result went our way, but it could have gone either way. It was a great game for everybody who was there just to watch it.

"I'd take the same result, but maybe with less dramatic moments because there were too many goals and too many incidents."

It is still that time of the season when players are linked in and out of your clubs. Apparently Romelu Lukaku is staying at Everton, and England goalkeeper Joe Hart was strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman then tried to calm things down by saying "There is no interest in Joe Hart."

On today's match, he added: "The Stoke game, that is more important than all the rumours.

"We are improving. We are close to 100% but I think some players did not get game time in pre-season.

"Maybe they need one or two weeks more to get everybody on the highest level."

Disagree with Laura Trott and Mark Lawrenson? If you can do any better then have a go at the BBC Predictor and forecast the results of this weekend's games.

Four-time Olympic cycling champion and Tottenham fan Laura Trott has given her predictions on the weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Both her and BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson are expecting an Everton win today. Lawro says 2-0 to the hosts, while Trott thinks Stoke will score, but still lose 2-1.

Watch the video below to see the rest of Trott's predictions.

Mark Schwarzer
Former Middlesbrough and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on Football Focus

Ronald Koeman's arrival coincides with the new ownership and they are looking to build something special.

There have already been responses from players. Leighton Baines said that there is a healthy respect for the manager.

They are more organised and fitter than last season. It seems a very happy camp at Everton.

OK, it is August, there are only a couple of games gone, but the table could make very nice reading for Everton fans tonight.

A win against Stoke and Chelsea losing at home to Burnley will take Everton top. Well, for a few hours at least as Manchester United face Hull in the late kick-off today.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

An overhaul won't happen overnight but you can feel the extended positivity already surrounding Everton.

A victory would add to that - it would give the perennial slow starters their highest points tally after their opening three matches of a season in 10 years.

The announcement that Romelu Lukaku is staying with the club has only enhanced the new feelgood factor.

Ronald Koeman is still trying to add to his squad, as is his opposite number Mark Hughes, who's bidding to lead Stoke to a top-half finish for the fourth season running.

I watched Stoke win this fixture in amazing fashion 4-3 last season. A third successive win at Goodison would get them off and running.

So what is going to happen today? Let's get the thoughts of Match of the Day commentator Steve Bower...

Yannick Bolasie and Ashley Williams both start Premier League games for Everton for the first time, but right back Seamus Coleman misses out because of an ankle injury. Arouna Kone remains on the bench despite scoring twice in the 4-0 EFL Cup victory over Yeovil on Tuesday.

Stoke midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is still not fit enough to play because of an ankle injury, with goalkeeper Jack Butland and defender Glen Johnson still also absent through injury. 

EFL goals may not have got Kone into Everton's starting line-up but they have got Peter Crouch into Stoke's. He plays in the Premier League for the first time this season after a hat-trick at Stevenage on Tuesday.

Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Sport's live text commentary from the Premier League match between Everton and Stoke.

There is no time to waste, so straight to the team news.

Everton have made a bright start under new boss Ronald Koeman and are unbeaten after their first two Premier League games.

Image source, Getty Images

But there has not been much to cheer for Stoke fans so far. No wins from their first two league games, and a heavy home defeat against Manchester City in their last Premier League match.

Can Mark Hughes' side get their first win today or will Koeman's unbeaten run go on?

Image source, Getty Images