Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The players have got no excuse, they are on their own now

What Duncan Ferguson has done is simplify it. He’s gone to 4-4-2.

They’ve got no place to hide.

Not convinced Lucas Digne's attempts at going unnoticed will work at Goodison...

Image source, Reuters

Dion Dublin
Former Manchester United striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Run around, work hard. I want to see sweat, mud and blood.

Work hard for the Everton shirt, that’s all the fans want to see.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Duncan Ferguson appears on the big screens with some inspiring words as kick-off approaches.

Everton are relying on a big Duncan bounce to revive their sagging season - but the big question is if this team actually has a bounce in them on the evidence of recent performances.

There definitely feels to be a brighter mood at Goodison Park but some fans clearly want a bigger fix than a managerial change as a plane flies over Goodison Park with a banner, presumably aimed at chairman Bill Kenwright, saying: "22 years of failure Bill #timetogobill"

James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Radio 5 Live at Goodison Park

The changes needed to be made. Sometimes you just need a freshen up.

I think Duncan will look the response at training and pick his team from that.

You can make as many changes as you want, it’s the personnel, but if they defend like they have all season then they’re asking for trouble.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everton can’t get any worse, they can only improve.

Duncan Ferguson has got players back from injury so it looks a much better team, certainly attacking wise.

So I expect much better from Everton.

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Ex-Everton goalkeeper on Football Focus

There's been so much chopping and changing at Everton. There is no DNA, who are they? Through all age groups that needs to be implemented. It is a long term fix.

Ashley Williams
Former Everton defender on Football Focus

It was a strange one. It was bizarre from the start. You knew Benitez was probably always on borrowed time with the fans because of his links with Liverpool.

It had been going wrong for a while. On the pitch the tactics seemed very bizarre. They didn't dominate teams, they were leaking goals. There was not a lot going right during his time in charge.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have won just once in 13 Premier League fixtures, losing nine of the past 12.

Five points from their past 12 league matches represents Everton's lowest tally across such a span of games since earning four points between August and October 1994.

Only twice previously have they had fewer than their current 19 points after 19 games of a Premier League campaign - 17 in both 1997-98 and 2005-06.

With that sort of form it seems fair that Rafael Benitez had to go.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Image source, Getty Images

Goodison Park will be more upbeat today following the sacking of the unpopular Rafa Benitez and the return of Duncan Ferguson and Everton's fans all seem in agreement on one thing - they are not sure who they want as the next manager.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

I usually expect the atmosphere at Saturday lunchtime kick-offs to be flat, but not this one.

Instead it could almost feel gladiatorial with Duncan Ferguson in the Everton dugout after they sacked Rafa Benitez, and we know from his previous stint as their caretaker boss that he won't tolerate any slacking.

The whole mood at Goodison Park will be different now Benitez has gone, and the fact Villa boss Steven Gerrard is on the touchline too will ratchet it up another notch or two as well.

Villa are in good shape at the moment, as they showed with their fightback against Manchester United last weekend, and their new signing Philippe Coutinho will be fitter and sharper after getting another week's training under his belt too.

But I am expecting an improved performance from Everton. You tend to get that anyway whenever a team changes manager, but I think it is especially the case with Big Dunc in charge.

Prediction: 2-1

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Alex Scott is joined by former Wales captain Ashley Williams and ex-England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.

It is a winning start for Duncan Ferguson as far as many Everton fans are concerned. He apparently bought everyone at the nearby pub a pint this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

There was a huge game at the bottom of the table last night as Norwich won at Watford to move out of the relegation zone and put the Hornets into it for the first time.

The loss puts more pressure on Watford boss Claudio Ranieri, whose side suffered an 11th defeat in 13 games during his time in charge.

Read Emma Sanders' report on last night's game here.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby boss Wayne Rooney says he is "flattered" to have been linked with the vacant managerial role at Everton.

The 36-year-old had two spells as a player at the Toffees, coming through the youth ranks before returning towards the end of his career.

Rooney said he was aware of speculation linking him with replacing Rafael Benitez, but added there had been no official approach.

"Of course Everton is a club I grew up supporting," he said.

"I'm flattered to get brought up in those conversations, but I know Everton know that to have any communication with me they have to go through the [Derby County] administrators."

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Gerrard loved a goal against Everton.

He also won a career-best 16 Premier League fixtures versus Everton as a player, losing just four of his 30 meetings.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Interesting team selections at Goodison Park as Duncan Ferguson resumes in caretaker charge.

New signing Vitalii Mykolenko is dropped, while Seamus Coleman is on the bench and Yerry Mina takes over as captain. Crowd favourite Anthony Gordon is also relegated to the bench.

It's a swift return to Everton for France defender Lucas Digne, who joined Villa for £25m recently and there is a first start for Philippe Coutinho.

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard says he is expecting "loads of banter" at Goodison Park.

The ex-Liverpool captain says he was "surprised" that Rafael Benitez took on Everton job.

Watch what Gerrard had to say yesterday in the video above.