Is this, whisper it, would we call it... a six-pointer?!

It's super tight at the bottom end of the table, with just three points separating Brighton in 15th and Watford in the relegation zone.

Win today and the Hornets will head into their winter break in a position of safety, for now.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton make four changes from the side that began the 3-3 draw at West Ham last Saturday with starts for Shane Duffy, Solly March, Ezequiel Schelotto and Dan Burn.

Brighton XI: Ryan, Duffy, Burn, Dunk, Schelotto, March, Mooy, Propper, Groß, Trossard, Murray.

Subs: Button, Maupay, Webster, Jahanbakhsh, Bernardo, Connolly, Alzate.

Image source, BBC Sport

Just the one change for Watford from the side that threw away a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 against Everton last week as Will Hughes comes in for Nathaniel Chalobah, who suffered a back spasm against the Toffees and is only among the substitutes today.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Masina, Cathcart, Kabasele, Deulofeu, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra, Hughes, Deeney.

Subs: Gomes, Dawson, Welbeck, Chalobah, Gray, Holebas, Pussetto

Image source, Getty Images

Hello again...

We've had a break, grabbed a snack and a cuppa, and now we're back raring to go for the second of today's Premier League kick-offs.

It's Brighton against Watford at the Amex.

Image source, Getty Images

So Everton are up to seventh, just one point off fifth spot and five away from Chelsea and the Champions League places.

Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti will certainly head into the winter break with a smile on his face to accompany his usual raised eyebrow.

With just two games today, we're going to take a breather and rejoin you for the build-up to Brighton versus Watford a little later - that one kicks off at 17:30 GMT.

Until then, fill ya boots with Gary Rose's match report from Goodison Park.

Everton

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was an important result. We climbed the table and that's the most important thing.

"Richarlison's goal was an outstanding counter attack. He's a fantastic player and really important for us and this was an outstanding goal.

"When the strikers score goals it is important. They need to have the support of the other players and some parts we did well but some parts we can do better.

"In the 30 days since I arrived here I have to be happy. The players and staff did a fantastic job but the Europa League has to be the target.

"When I arrived the spirit was good and after that we have quality in the squad. At this moment everything is OK but this is football and sometimes it is unpredictable."

Crystal Palace

More from Roy Hodgson, on Christian Benteke's first goal since April: "He was lively, held the ball up well and got his head on a few balls, that was a positive for us - he's beginning to be the type of centre forward we need.

"He was a constant danger but Everton defended well too. As did we. Jordan Pickford was forced to make a match-winning save.

"We have enough in our locker to make sure we get the points we need, but the sooner that happens the happier we'll all be."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson on Match of the Day: "It was a cruel defeat in many ways, the first 25 minutes was tame from both teams, but towards the end of the half we showed more confidence and got on the ball better.

"The way we started the second was half really good and the equaliser was a result of the control we had. The second goal came when we were pushing, all of a sudden the flick on puts Richarlison through on a 40, 50-yard run and we found ourselves fighting to get back another equaliser - we hit the crossbar, the keeper made a fantastic save.

"The third killed it off. I can't fault the players' effort, but it's another defeat and another we go home without points despite the fact we didn't play that badly and perhaps deserved something.

"We know what we have to do. When we moved the ball quickly we asked questions and were close to getting more than one goal. The result colours any sort of judgement, so it's difficult to see the game as clear as you would like."

Everton

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, on BT Sport: "The best thing today is the result, the performance was not so good. It was a difficult game, a lot of interruptions. We were not able to keep the intensity. Richarlison did a fantastic counter attack and we won for this reason.

"Before the break, three points is important. We know they have this quality, Richarlison is a fantastic player in counter attack, he used that situation really well."

On Theo Walcott's injury: "In the squad there is no player that can replace the ability of Walcott, Sidibe did well but is more defensive qualities than Walcott, I hope it will not be serious but we will see tomorrow."

And Sidibe missing a sock before coming on: "A new experience for me!"

On qualifying for Europe: "This is the target, since I arrived the team did a fantastic job, now we have a possibility to think about Europa League."

Crystal Palace are without a clean sheet in 10 Premier League games, the longest current run in the competition. However, this was just the second time the Eagles have conceded 3+ goals in a Premier League match this season (also 0-4 vs Spurs in September 2019).

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin provided his first Premier League assist of the season, while this was the first time he both scored and assisted in the same league game since December 2017 vs Huddersfield.

Seven of Richarlison’s nine Premier League goals this season have given Everton the lead in a match. Only Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham (8 each) have put their side ahead more often this term.

Everton’s Theo Walcott has as many goal involvements in his last two Premier League games (1 goal, 1 assist) as he did in his previous 20 in the competition (also 1 goal, 1 assist).

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, speaking to BT Sport after scoring his first goal since April 2019: "I was happy to score but it was frustrating to lose.

"This was the hardest moment of my career so far in England. It hasn't been easy but every week is another chance and today I took it.

"We didn't win and we are in a really bad mood."

Zred: Everton are now 5 points away from the last Champions league spot no one wants to take.

Arvind: Everton are well placed for an European spot. Who would have thought this a few weeks ago.

Jack: Any more proof that outside the top 3 ,the premier league is awful. Everton have lost 10 games,have a negative goal difference but are now 6pts from a champions league spot with 12 games to go

Everton

Everton keeper Jordan Pickford: "We knew it was going to be tough but we dug in, showed grit and determination, and with our strike force we know we can score goals."

On his error for Christian Benteke's goal: "Disgusting. I was disappointed with myself. My studs got caught but I hold my hands up for that. I reset and I never let anything affect me. It shows my character."

Some stat, they're hogging all the points up on Merseyside...

Only Liverpool (24) have won more Premier League points than Everton (17) since Carlo Ancelotti’s first game in charge of the Toffees in December.

Everton

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, speaking to BT Sport: "We knew how important it was today, back-to-back wins puts us in good stead going into the break. It's good we won, it wasn't the prettiest game but we dug in and won our individual battles.

"I am enjoying playing with Richi (Richarlison), since Dunc (Ferguson) came in we have been a partnership - we work together, complement each other. It wasn't the best performance from me but I got the goal, should have had another. We get on off the pitch as well.

"We all know where we want to be and that's playing in Europe, that's the goal all the way through - we're in the best position we've been this season. We have to back ourselves."

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Carlo Ancelotti has a big smile on his face as he walks off the pitch and everything seems rosy at Goodison Park after a game that was in the balance until the closing stages.

The only way is up under the Italian, it would seem, as the Europa League comes closer into view.

With 11 goals, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the top-scoring Englishman for Everton in a single Premier League campaign since Andrew Johnson in 2006-07.

Has the 22-year-old solved Everton's hunt for a striker?

And that's it.

Carlo Ancelotti's Everton get the three points.

The Toffees start the winter break with a win that lifts them within one point of the top five.

Ar Vind: Everton are well placed for an European spot. Who would have thought this a few weeks ago

Zred: Everton are now 5 points away from the last Champions league spot no one wants to take

Dominic Calvert-Lewin... surely his second, no!

The Everton forward skies over on the volley with the goal gaping.

It was a lovely passing move from the hosts and Richarlison's effort was palmed away by Palace stopper Vicente Guaita, straight into the path of Calvert-Lewin. Should've scored.

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Tempted to say game over, but I was here when Newcastle scored twice in injury time to earn a 2-2 draw a few weeks ago!