An interesting free-kick routine leads to Philippe Coutinho's header being tipped over by Jordan Pickford on the stroke of half time. Another great save!

A mazy run by Jacob Ramsey is halted by Andre Gomes and the Everton midfielder receives the game's first yellow card.

KeithMC: Wish Richarlison would put as much effort into non-fouling activities.

Armchair_Foot: A lot of fire and a real absence of quality in this game so far.

Alex Chatsworth: All very underwhelming so far.

I don't care that the offside flag has gone up because this is a brilliant save by Jordan Pickford!

Ollie Watkins is a solid mile offside as a ball comes in from Emiliano Buendia but play continues as Watkins heads down from point-blank range with Pickford saving with his foot.

The ball is fired in to the near post but Ollie Watkins is there to head clear.

A bit of scrappy play in the middle as half time approaches. Tyrone Mings then puts the ball behind to give Everton an unexpected corner.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Everton fans right behind their team and looking for something to cheer but not a shot on target from the home team. Villa looking to probe but not much quality from them either.

John McGinn is awarded a free kick as he is bundled over by Richarlison, but Everton fans are fuming because they feel Richarlison should have had a free kick for an earlier tussle.

There's a bit needle developing with half time approaching.

Ollie Watkins stabs the ball just wide as he makes a great run to meet a ball over the top. Watkins feels he is fouled by Jordan Pickford as the Everton keeper came out to try and clear the danger but VAR takes a very quick look and decides there's nothing in it.

Image source, Getty Images

A brief scare for Yerry Mina as he heads a long ball from the Aston Villa defence over his onrushing goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Fortunately no harm done as there's not much on it and Pickford is able to turn and collect, but a slightly concerning lack of communication nonetheless.

There's a clash between Yerry Mina and Emiliano Buendia. The Aston Villa forward wants the referee to take action and appears to be showing a mark on his chest caused by the tussle. Both get a talking to before Everton second their second corner of the game into the box but it is dealt with.

Image source, Getty Images

James McFadden
Former Everton forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

Richarlison makes a run and not for the first time that pass has been overhit.

Give them something to cheer, get them engaged, that's perfect.

They go and win it back, create a chance out of nothing and but for that pass being a bit better Richarlison is in on goal. We need to see more of that.

Oooh almost a costly slip by Lucas Digne as Everton break following an Aston Villa corner. Abdoulaye Doucoure leads the charge with Richarlison in support but overhits his pass and Emi Martinez gets to the ball first.

Relief for Digne.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a picture of the plane that flew over Goodison Park earlier, carying a message to Bill Kenwright...

"22 years of failure Bill."

Image source, Getty Images

AHA: The mindset of some #Everton fans to boo Digne....when he was basically forced out......is perplexing to say the least.

Football Coaching:Tuning in to #EVEAVL now. Why doesn't Ramsey have a name and number on his jersey?

Doucoure tore it off. Probably the most interesting thing that's happened in the game tbf.

Image source, PA Media

Andros Townsend twists and turns on the right, trying to get the better of his ex-team-mate Lucas Digne but Digne wins the battle, prompting groans from the home fans as Philippe Coutinho breaks but nothing comes of the Aston Villa foray.

Ben Godfrey wins the game's first corner. Yerry Mina wanders into the area and meets the delivery but can't direct it on target.

Emiliano Buendia, looking for only his second goal of the season, drags a shot well wide for Aston Villa.

The atmosphere has become steadily more subdued. The game needs a goal.

James McFadden
Former Everton forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jordan Pickford came up with a good save there, then Everton showed the intent to get up the other end.

It looks like they have been freed the players. It was more defensive-minded under Rafa Benitez. I don't think there was much fun involved, but you can see they have got that energy now.