That air raid siren that goes off at Goodison before kick-off is unsettling. Odd choice.

Anyway, the teams are out on the pitch so we'll have a game on our hands shortly.

Everton

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, speaking to Sky Sports about his side's bid for Europe: "There are a lot of teams there, we are pleased to be there but we have to do better. We lost some games before the break, we have recovered some players and three points will be really important."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, speaking to Sky Sports: "It’s a long time since we played, it's been a two and a half week break. It seems somewhat surreal to have a game again, with all your first team players around you, but it makes it more important that we get off to a good start with a good performance."

Image source, Getty Images

I'll be handing over reins of this here live text commentary to m'colleague Harry Poole for the Wolves v West Ham game, and while I don't want to steal his thunder at all, I think it is important to bring you the news about Declan Rice.

The 22-year-old is expected to miss the next four weeks after picking up a knee injury while on international duty with England, having played every minute of the wins against Albania and Poland.

Rice has featured in all of the Hammers' Premier League matches this season, with David Moyes' side having won 14 of their 29 games.

We'll find out who takes his place when team news for that game is released in just over an hour.

It may seem that Palace have little left to play for than pride and the extra brass that a few Premier League places brings. Barring a serious twist of events, their performance should be enough to keep them in the division.

Even if they don't pick up another point, Fulham still need to show a level of form they've failed to reach at any stage prior to this to reach the 37 points Palace have in the bank.

If Roy Hodgson's side are feeling really ambitious, they need 12 points from nine matches to equal their highest Premier League total of 49, set in 1992-93 and 2018-19.

Something has to give tonight, though.

Everton could lose four competitive matches in a row for the first time since December 2017 to January 2018.

Meanwhile, Palace could lose four consecutive away games against the Toffees for the first time.

Recent history certainly favours Carlo Ancelotti's lads, with Everton unbeaten in the past 12 Premier League meetings with Palace, though they've not done the league double over the side from London since 2004-05.

This evening's game brings Roy and Carlo up against each other again...

Image source, Getty Images

It's around a quarter of a century ago that they faced each other in Serie A as the bosses of Inter Milan and Parma respectively.

Nigel Barnes: Will we actually see Everton come out and play quick, attacking, aggressive football, or will it continue to be sit back, play deep, let them come - and lose again!

Roger: Ol' Roy needs to unleash Eze, he's not a holding midfielder.

So why have Everton struggled so much at home this season? This video, featuring BBC football expert (and former Toffee) Pat Nevin may shed some light...

It's a strange aspect of Everton's otherwise impressive 'better-than-expected' season that their home form really has been poor.

The Toffees have lost seven of their past 11 Premier League home fixtures. An eighth home defeat of the season would equal their most this century, set in 2015-16.

They have also conceded 22 league goals at Goodison Park this season, more than in any of the previous four seasons.

Looking at the game at Goodison, you'd instinctively say home win. But then, there is this...

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Everton's struggles at home are well documented but I fancy the Toffees to bounce back here after three straight defeats. I don't see Crystal Palace pushing them.

The big issue for the Eagles now is whether Roy Hodgson will stay on for another season, but at least no-one is talking about them getting relegated.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro's full predictions v singer David Gray

There's live football going on elsewhere too this evening. Sadly, you've missed the main bulk of action from the Championship, League One and Two, but there is still a game to go with Sheffield Wednesday (who've just gone bottom of the Championship table) taking on Cardiff.

You can follow that here.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The good news is that you have options tonight for how you follow these two Premier League games. You can stick with the written stuff, provided by myself and m'colleague Harry Poole. Or, if you're more of a listener than a reader, there's live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The latter can accessed via the play button at the top of this page or by the old school method of an actual radio.

Anyway, what do you make of those two sides? Everton much better off with James Rodriguez in the starting XI but maybe a bit softer in the middle without Allan?

And that Palace team looks so much more threatening with Wilfried Zaha in it. Just gives an opponent more than one creative force to worry about along with Eberechi Eze.

Like much of the country today, the sun is shining over Goodison Park. It will, though, also be absolutely freezing. I took one glimpse out the window this morning and saw prime walking weather. I took one step outside the front door and suddenly felt like I was in The Thing.

It's April!

Four changes for Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton from the side that were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup just before the international break.

The big news is that James Rodriguez starts having not played for the Toffees since February.

Michael Keane, Tom Davies and goalkeeper Robin Olsen also return to the starting XI.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ben Godfrey and Joao Virginia all drop to the bench while midfielder Allan isn’t named in the squad.

Everton XI: Olsen, Coleman, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Digne, Gomes, Davies, Rodriguez, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Virginia, Tyrer, Sigurdsson, King, Nkounkou, Godfrey, Gbamin, Broadhead, John.

Image source, .

As for Crystal Palace, boss Roy Hodgson has kept things nice and simple, naming an unchanged side to the team that edged out West Brom in their last outing.

That means Wilfried Zaha keeps his place, making a second-successive start in the Premier League for the first time in over two months.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, van Aanholt, Ayew, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Eze, Benteke, Zaha.

Subs: Butland, Dann, Townsend, Mateta, Schlupp, Batshuayi, Mitchell, Kelly, Hannam.

Image source, .

Good news, Everton fans... James Rodriguez is back!

The Colombian midfielder has missed the Toffees' last four Premier League games.