It’s Premier League match time at Britannia Stadium when Stoke host Everton on New Years Day, in match week 21.

This is a second leg encounter between the sides who met for the first time this season at Goodison Park on October 16. Everton won that game 1-0, on the back of a 67th minute strike by Yakubu.

The Toffees took control of the game early on, and Arteta returning to the side had a good day in midfield. Heitinga was outstanding in the back-line, on a day Tuncay was among few impressive players for the Potters. Tuncay’s goal was disallowed for an ostensible foul on Baines and Potters’ fans would have felt aggrieved with the referee’s decision.

The win took Everton up the table to 7th position, their highest of the season. To stoke’s credit their defence was resolute for about an hour when they did not allow Everton any shots at goal from close quarters.

Stoke, currently in 10th place in the points table, have had an average home record with four wins and four losses in 10 games hosted, the remaining two games having ended in stalemates. Eleventh-placed Everton’s away record has been even less impressive with six draws and two losses, in ten games, while winning just two games on the road.

Head to head, in five league games between the sides, the Toffees have established a 3-0 lead over the Potters, with the remaining two games drawn.

Everton have had just the solitary win in their last nine games, with six draws and two losses, and their last home win was in October’s first leg game against Stoke. In contrast, the Potters have revived their campaign in their last eight games with four wins. But after a home loss to Fulham, in match week 20, the Potters will need to work hard if they want to take away any points from the Everton game.

Stoke had the following men in their starting eleven against Fulham, in match week 20: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Walters and Jones. Fuller, Wilson and Sanli featured as substitutes.

The following players were in Everton’s starting eleven against West Ham in match week 20: Howard, Neville Hibbert Distin Baines Coleman Rodwell Arteta Fellaini Pienaar and Cahill. The substitutes used were Beckford, Bilyaletdinov and Yakubu.