Good morning! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as Norwich City host Everton at Carrow Road. These two sides come into the match in contrasting form, with Norwich looking nervously over their shoulders and Everton's gaze focused firmly up the table. We should have a good game on our hands this afternoon, so let's start with a look at the two teams...

NORWICH STARTING XI: Rudd; Wisdom, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, O'Neil, Tettey, Brady; Hoolahan; Jerome

NORWICH SUBS: Ruddy, Grabban, Howson, Mbokani, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Bennett

EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines; Cleverley, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Joel, Gibson, Mirallas, Lennon, Naismith, Osman, Galloway

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well, the biggest news for Norwich comes between the sticks as Declan Rudd is once again preferred to John Ruddy. Rudd has only ever made three Premier League appearances and he has ended up on the losing side on each occasion, but his performance in defeat to Watford last weekend was enough for Alex Neil to stick with him ahead of his usual first choice.

In all, Alex Neil has made four changes to the side that was beaten last weekend, with one of those seeing captain Russell Martin return to the starting lineup at the heart of the defence. The skipper is actually Norwich's second highest scorer this season having found the net more times than any of the club's strikers, and he slots in to an otherwise unchanged back four alongside Wisdom, Martin, Bassong and Olsson.

Redmond is the club's top scorer this season and he once again plays from the start today, but there are a couple of changes around him. Gary O'Neil returns to the side, while Wes Hoolahan has overcome a knee injury to start in place of Howson. Dorrans is the man to make way for O'Neil, while Tettey and Brady both keep their places in the side from last Saturday.

There is always plenty of interest regarding the striker when a Norwich team is announced, and Alex Neil has opted for Cameron Jerome on this occasion. That sees Grabban drop to the bench alongside Mbokani, with that attacking trio combining for just five league goals all season. That is arguably Norwich's biggest problem at the moment and, with the January transfer window fast approaching, time might be running out for any of them to stake a firm claim as the club's first-choice frontman.

There are no such problems at Everton, where Romelu Lukaku status as the main striker is without doubt. The Belgian was not at his best last season but he has been in fantastic form so far this term, netting 11 league goals to trail only Jamie Vardy in the goalscoring stakes. He has scored in five consecutive league games and six in a row in all competitions, taking his tally for the calendar year up to 27 goals. He also reached 50 for the club last time out, doing so in exactly 100 appearances to become the fastest Evertonian to reach the 50-goal milestone since Joe Royle in 1969, and only the 12th of all time.

© Getty Images

Everton's form is by no means down to just Lukaku, though. The Belgian has been ably supported by those around him, with Deulofeu in particular shining in recent matches. The youngster was not a regular starter earlier in the campaign, but his form at the moment makes him almost undroppable and Norwich will have a tough time dealing with him if he is at his best again today. Barkley is another to have impressed this season, while the presence of Kone as well gives the Norwich defence plenty to worry about.

There is just the one change to this Everton side from last weekend's draw with Crystal Palace, and it is a welcome one for the Toffees as Leighton Baines makes his first start of the season following a lengthy absence through injury. He replaces Galloway at left-back and will hope to pick up where he left off before his ankle injury. Coleman, Stone and Funes Mori make up the rest of the back four, with the latter still in due to Phil Jagielka's ongoing injury problems.

Cleverley and Barry will once again sit in a deeper midfield role, with the latter getting through plenty of work so far this season. Only Andrew Surman of Bournemouth has run further than Barry in the Premier League this season, which is something of a surprise given the type of player he is. He isn't really regarded as an all-action, energetic midfielder, but he has certainly put the yards in the Toffees.

There are in-form players through the Everton team, then, and Norwich will know that they are the underdogs going into this match. The Canaries have applied themselves well since promotion last season and probably deserve a little more than they have got so far in terms of points on the board, but they remain in trouble and a hefty defeat today could even see them drop into the relegation zone before the 3pm kickoffs.

As it is, they are only out of the bottom three on goal difference, level on 13 points with Bournemouth and Newcastle. The early kickoff does give them a chance to steal a march on their rivals and put pressure on them, but anything other than victory here could see them end the day in the relegation zone. It certainly won't be easy against Everton, particularly as Norwich enter this match in pretty poor form.

The Canaries have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games, picking up just six points from a possible 30 in that time. Indeed, their tally of four points from the last 24 on offer is the second worst in the league, with only Villa (two points) having accrued fewer during that period. All three of their victories this season having come against other sides in the bottom six too, and while that may be good for their chances of keeping their heads above water, it doesn't bode too well for today's game.

Norwich's biggest problem in recent weeks has been sticking the ball in the back of the net. They have scored only 17 times so far this season, and the majority of those came in the opening few weeks. The Canaries have found the back of the net just three times in their last six outings, which comes back to the strikers only managing five between them all season. That simply has to improve sooner rather than later.

Things aren't much better at the other end of the field either, although that aspect has improved a little in recent weeks. They have kept just one clean sheet all season and only the bottom four have conceded more than the 27 shipped by Norwich in the Premier League so far. A league-high 10 of those goals have come from crosses too, which will not fill the fans with much confidence when Lukaku is in town.

Home form needs to improve too for the Canaries. Only Bournemouth and Aston Villa have amassed fewer points in front of their own fans so far this season, although there are signs of things going in the right direction now. They are unbeaten in their last two at Carrow Road, which includes victory over Swansea and a good draw against Arsenal - a match they arguably should have won in the end.

Norwich's most recent outing came last Saturday in a battle between two promoted teams, but as expected it was Watford who came out on top. Deeney and Ighalo got the goals, as ever, for the Hornets, but it could have been a lot worse for the Canaries. Ighalo alone spurned a number of chances to wrap things up before his 91st-minute strike finally put his side out of reach. That defeat for Norwich was made even worse by both Bournemouth and Newcastle picking up shock victories against Chelsea and Liverpool respectively.

© Getty Images

Everton, meanwhile, come into this game in decent form, although they have been held to draws in consecutive Premier League matches now. The latest was a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday night - a game that the Toffees will feel that they should have won. In the end they needed to come from behind after Scott Dann put the Eagles in front far too easily from a corner, but Everton did hit the woodwork three times over the course of the 90 minutes so may well feel hard done by.

It was another encouraging performance from Roberto Martinez's men, though, and there have been plenty of them already this season. There was a lot of doom and gloom around the club before the campaign began following a poor 2014-15 season and an underwhelming transfer window, but they have returned to form in style so far this this campaign, with all of the key players getting into their stride at the same time.

They have certainly become an exciting team to watch again. Only Leicester and Manchester City have scored more goals than Everton's 28 this season, while only the Foxes and West Ham have conceded more outside the bottom seven. That latter stat is obviously one that Roberto Martinez will want to improve upon, but it makes for entertaining viewing from a neutral perspective, and with Lukaku in this sort of form, the Toffees will fancy their chances of outscoring most teams.

Everton do still sit down in ninth place, which is largely due to their seven draws from 15 games so far this season, but a victory today would lift them up to sixth in the table and within one point of Tottenham in fifth. They are unbeaten in seven games since a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in October, with that run starting when the Toffees beat today's opponents on penalties in the League Cup. They have alternated between wins and draws in that run, however, and if they can turn some of those draws into victories then they will be real challengers for the European places.

They have scored 18 goals in those seven matches unbeaten, but once again their problem has been keeping them out at the other end - the recent 3-3 draw with Bournemouth being a case in point. They have now drawn three of their last four games in the Premier League and have not managed consecutive league wins all season. A touch of consistency is all that is stopping Everton from being right in amongst the top four or five at the moment.

Another way of looking at their number of draws this season is that they are a very tough team to beat. Indeed, their only three league defeats this season have come against teams currently in the top four - Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. Those are games they would have perhaps expected to lose anyway, but it is the other sides in the cluster around them in the table that they need to start beating if they are to push up. Their only victories so far this term have come against teams in the bottom half.

Everton have only lost once on the road in the Premier League this season, with that coming at the Emirates, but they have also only won one of their last six, with that victory coming back in September. That is where the bulk of Everton's dropped points are coming and, considering the form both sides are in heading into this match, Roberto Martinez would probably see it as more points dropped if they only manage a draw here.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Carrow Road, which means that it is time for a prediction! The form book points to an Everton victory today and, while I wouldn't be too surprised to see Norwich pull off a draw, I am going to side with the Toffees too. Lukaku looks unstoppable at the moment, and up against a Norwich defence that has looked incredibly shaky at times this season, he could well have a field day. I'm going for 3-1 to Everton.

We were in agreement in the Sports Mole podcast this week, both backing Everton to win this one fairly comfortably. Have a listen to our preview of the match here:

Norwich have only beaten Everton once in their last 13 league and cup meetings, with that coming in February 2013 when they ran out 2-1 victors. However, Everton have not had things all their own way in that time either, with five of the last seven meetings between these two sides ending all square.

Everton's record at Carrow Road is pretty poor too, winning just one of their last 11 visits and that coming all the way back in 2004. Those last 11 meetings span 26 years, but in the Premier League era they have won only one of seven visits here. It has not been a happy hunting ground for the Toffees.

These two sides have already met once this season, being drawn together in the last 16 of the League Cup back in October. Goals from Osman and Bassong took the game to penalties, and it was Everton who prevailed in the shootout 4-3. The last meeting here at Carrow Road came in August 2013, and that also finished all square courtesy of goals from Whittaker, Van Wolfswinkel, Barkley and Coleman in a 2-2 draw.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Norwich get us underway at Carrow Road looking to distance themselves from the relegation zone with just a second win in 11 games.

An early penalty shout for Everton as Deulofeu bursts into the box before going down under the challenge of Bassong, but referee Martin Atkinson instead awards a free kick the other way.

Good football from Norwich as Jerome slides a pass in to Hoolahan, but Howard plucks the resulting cross out of the air.

SHOT! This has been a really bright start from the hosts. Redmond gets Baines in a one-on-one situation and uses his pace to earn a yard on the returning left-back before lashing an effort off target from a tight angle.

Norwich are looking to press Everton in and around the visitors' box when they get the chance, perhaps trying to take advantage of any rustiness from Baines in particular. The hosts will be pleased with the opening 10 minutes of this one.

Another effort from Norwich as the ball is laid back to Tettey, who gets plenty of power behind his first-time effort but can't keep his strike down, and it flies well over the top.

CHANCE! Everton's first opening of the match falls to the man they would want it to fall too, but Lukaku drags his effort a few yards wide. Baines and Kone linked up to find the Belgian, who took the chance first time, but Rudd was confident in watching it wide.

Norwich gift Everton a good attacking platform with a misplaced pass, but Barkley, Deulofeu and Kone can't take full advantage and Martin is able to clear the ball behind for a corner.

Who else? The initial corner comes to nothing, but Norwich fail to clear their lines despite having two chances to do so. Olsson's clearance is straight to Deulofeu, who bends a beauty of a cross to the back post where Lukaku nods it home. He was never going to miss that in the sort of form he is in.

That is seven consecutive games in which Lukaku has scored for Everton in all competitions, and six in the Premier League. Jamie Vardy's record may be under threat at this rate!

There have been far too many individual errors from Norwich in this match so far, and another sees Deulofeu handed the chance to race forward. This time the Spaniard can't make the most of it, however, as he runs the ball out of play when trying to take on his man.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Everton to double their advantage! Lukaku slides the ball through to Kone, who finds himself with only the keeper to beat, but Rudd is quick off his line and thwarts the Everton man. That could prove to be a big save from the inexperienced keeper.

Norwich just need to get a grip on this game now. They started brightly enough, but they have given the ball away far too often in the last 10 minutes or so and Everton can be so dangerous on the break. The visitors look like scoring almost every time they come forward at the moment.

That's a bit more like it from Norwich. The ball is stabbed through to Redmond down the right flank, and although his cross is cleared by Barry, it is the first foray they've had into the final third for a while.

The hosts have improved in the last five minutes or so, but the fans are getting a little restless here. Everton just played their way out of the area in their own time despite a number of yellow shirts being in attendance, and the fans clearly want to see more urgent pressing from their side.

It is down that right flank that Norwich's best moments have come so far. Redmond looks like their most likely route into this match, and Baines could do with a bit more help from Kone in front of him.

Nothing to report in terms of chances since Rudd denied Kone when clean through on goal, but there is no doubt that Everton deserve their lead after half an hour. Indeed, they probably should be even further ahead.

CHANCE! Everton should be two ahead! Cleverley is found in far too much space down the right channel and sends a fine low ball across the face of goal that takes a touch off Martin on the way through. That may make it a little tougher for Lukaku, but he still has to score with the goal gaping from close range at the back post. He scuffs his finish, though, and a glorious chances goes begging.

This time it is Hoolahan's turn to send a good cross into the box, but Stones does well to prevent Martin from getting his head to the ball inside the box.

Everton are in complete control at the moment. They are dominating possession and stroking it about very confidently, keeping Norwich at arm's length. Something needs to change for the hosts.

The visitors are almost in again here as they come forward down the right flank, with Coleman giving it to Deulofeu and looping round for the return pass. Deulofeu finds him, but the linesman's flag is rightly raised.

OFF THE POST! So nearly a second for Everton, and it would have been some goal! Deulofeu is the architect with some lovely footwork to send Coleman through down the right flank. The full-back lifts his cross to an unmarked Lukaku at the back post, but he can't connect as Tettey puts him under late pressure. The ball still drops to Baines, who takes a touch before arrowing a fine right-footed volley that crashes off the post. Very unlucky for the full-back.

CHANCES! More chances for Everton to get that elusive second! Kone forces an error from Martin to run clean through on goal, but Rudd is once again out quickly to make a good save. Moments later they are gifted the ball back and Lukaku is afforded plenty of room to move the ball onto his left and fire an effort narrowly wide.

Everton have had 80% possession in the last five minutes, which is a good sign of just how much they are dominating at the moment. They really should be three of four ahead, but as long as the deficit remains one, Norwich are still in this game.

This is a big worry for Everton as Stones goes down off the field after failing to latch on to a corner. It looks like a knee problem and he hasn't moved much since going down. He may be forced off here.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half, and the good news for the Everton fans is that Stones is fine to continue.

CLOSE! Lukaku is so close to getting a second right on the stroke of half time. Again it comes on the break as Barkley gives the ball to the striker, who works the ball onto his left before bending a low effort inches past the far post.

Martin Atkinson brings an end to the first half at Carrow Road, then, and it is Everton who go into the break with the lead, although they really should be further ahead. It has been one-way traffic for much of the game so far, and Norwich are fortunate to still be in it at 1-0.

The goal, predictably, came from Lukaku as the Belgian found the back of the net for the seventh game in a row in all competitions. Deulofeu was the creator with a beauty of a cross to the back post, where Lukaku pipped Bassong to the ball to nod home from close range.

© Getty Images

It could and should be three or four for Everton at least, though. The Toffees have created plenty of gilt-edged chances, with the best of the lot other than the goal also falling to Lukaku. A player in his form really should have snapped it up too, but the striker scuffed his effort at the back post with the goal gaping. It was a sitter, but Lukaku probably as enough credit in the bank to excuse him for that miss.

Everton have also struck the woodwork through Baines, who lashed a right-footed volley against the post after Lukaku had failed to connect with Coleman's cross. It was more good play from Deulofeu in the build-up with the Spaniard being arguably the standout player so far, and Lukaku will feel that he should have perhaps done better, but Baines was desperately unlucky to not find the top corner.

Lukaku has come close on a couple of other occasions too, and the Belgian looks dangerous every time he gets the ball. He also turned provider to send Kone clean through on goal, but the Ivorian has been denied on two occasions by Rudd when through one on one. Norwich have not tested Howard at all at the other end of the field, with Everton completely dominating the opening 45 minutes.

The hosts have not done themselves any favours whatsoever with the number of individual errors they have made, giving the ball away cheaply far too often in dangerous positions. They have gifted Everton a number of good attacking platforms, and the visitors are in the mood to capitalise.

KICKOFF: Everton get us back underway at Carrow Road, and the first thing to tell you is that the hosts have made a change at the break, bringing Ryan Bennett on for Wisdom.

Bright start to the second half from Norwich as they immediately come forward down the left flank, with Jerome whipping a dangerous ball into the box that is cleared behind for a corner.

Unbelievable! After being on the back foot for the vast majority of the first half, Norwich find themselves level within 64 seconds of the restart. It is a messy goal, but the hosts won't care one bit. The corner arrived at the back post and was planted towards the far corner by Bennett. A combination of Howard and Barkley keep it out, but the ball drops to Hoolahan, who is just about able to stab it over the line from close range, despite Barkley's best efforts.

CHANCE! Great play again by Deulofeu as he dances his way into the box, leaving Olsson on his backside in the process. His low cross into the box is just about dealt with, and Cleverley blazes the rebound well over the top.

Deulofeu has been brilliant on the ball so far, but this is the side of his game which can sometimes let him down. He tries to take on Olsson before going down and screaming to high heaven. The replay shows that he was caught by the outstretched hand of Olsson, but nothing to warrant such a reaction.

Another waste of a good position for Everton as Cleverley bursts forward from midfield looking to latch on to a pass inside. In the end it runs through to Lukaku on the edge of the box, but he tries to play in Cleverley and gets the pass all wrong.

That goal has certainly lifted the fans inside Carrow Road. There were boos in the first half and at the half-time whistle, but now the fans are fully behind the team, who are responding with a much improved performance.

This is a much more even contest now, and it is end-to-end stuff at the moment. Norwich have more vigour and energy about their performance now, and the match is turning into a very open contest.

CHANCE! Chance for the hosts as the ball breaks to Brady on the edge of the box, but Barry and Funes Mori both throw themselves in the way of the shot and the deflection takes it over the bar for another corner.

CHANCE! Another chance for Norwich to take the lead, and again it comes from a corner! This time the ball is flicked on towards the back post, where Hoolahan and Jerome are waiting to stick the ball home from close range. However, they get in each other's way and the linesman's flag is raised against Hoolahan. Had he just left that for Jerome then it would surely be 2-1.

CHANCE! It is Norwich who suddenly look most like scoring now, and it is roles reversed here from the first half. Barkley gives the ball away and Norwich immediately break forward, with Jerome slipping a pass in to Hoolahan. The goalscorer could go for goal himself, but instead looks for a pass and the attack breaks down as a result.

Suddenly Everton aren't looking quite as confident in possession now, and while there only ever looked like being one winner in the first half, right now it could go either way. This is a completely different Norwich side from the one that were so poor in the opening 45 minutes.

That's more like it from Everton. Beautiful football from the visitors as Baines, Lukaku and Deulofeu are all involved. The latter gets played into the box down the left side, but his low cross goes right across the six-yard box without being turned home.

It's Norwich's turn to come forward now, taking advantage of Baines being out of position with another lightning break. They have a three-on-two situation, but Redmond's final ball is poor and goes straight into the arms of Howard.

Everton have a good spell of possession, but some really good defensive work from Norwich forces them all the way back into their own half. The hosts have shown so much more desire since the interval.

Important block from Olsson as Kone manages to wriggle his way into a shooting position, only to see his low effort stopped by the left-back.

EVERTON SUB: Deulofeu hasn't had as big an impact in this second half as he did in the first, and as a result he is taken off here to be replaced by Kevin Mirallas.

CHANCE! Oh my word, what a miss this is! Norwich really should be ahead! Jerome and Hoolahan work the ball out to Bennett, who in turn is able to squeeze a low pass back in to Hoolahan inside the box. He back-heels it to Jerome, who has the goal gaping in front of him, but somehow he blazes it over the bar. You won't see many worse misses than that this season - it really was a sitter.

While it was Everton rueing their missed chances in the first half, Norwich will be doing the same with the second half if they don't go on to win this one. They should have been out of this one by the halfway stage, but right now they look the most likely to win it.

Tettey goes for the spectacular here, with Everton giving him the space to let fly from range. Again, he gets plenty of power behind the striker, but it is never going on target.

EVERTON SUB: Another change for the visitors sees Barkley depart to be replaced by Darron Gibson.

Nervous play from Rudd as he allows the ball to bounce once too often, inviting pressure on him outside the box. His clearance is not the best either, but Martin and Bennett combine to mop up the danger.

CHANCE! Big chance for Everton to regain the lead! Kone feeds the ball in to the feet of Barry inside the box, and the midfielder has the space to take a touch and go for goal from close range. He really shouldn't be afforded that sort of space in the area, but Rudd is out quickly to make a good save.

Just under 10 minutes remain here and it could still go either way. I mentioned before the match how draws had been Everton's main problem this season, and that looks like being the case again here. They should have been home and dry by half time.

It is Everton who look the most eager to turn this one point into three. Norwich are taking their time at restarts now, which suggests that they would be content with a draw here.

NORWICH SUB: The hosts make their second change of the match of Jonny Howson replaces Hoolahan for the final five minutes or so.

Alex Neil will be delighted with the response from his side in this second half. There weren't many reasons for optimism at half time, but they have really turned this game around and will feel as though they deserve a point now.

For Everton's part, they have also been a shadow of the team from the opening 45 minutes. That is partly down to Norwich pressing better and making fewer errors, but Everton themselves have not been as dangerous on the ball.

SHOT! Great pressing for Norwich to win the ball back in a good position, and that gives Howson the chance to let fly from range. His strike is good enough, but it flies a few yards over the top.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match. Will either side find a winner?

SHOT! Gibson looks to do so in spectacular fashion by hitting a good effort from at least 35 yards, but the ball swerves a couple of yards wide.

YELLOW CARD! Well, it took 92 minutes but Martin Atkinson finally produces his first card of the day, with Martin the recipient.

The spoils are shared at Carrow Road, then, and you would have got long odds on that at half time. Everton were dominant in the first half, but could only manage the one goal through Romelu Lukaku when they really should have been out of sight. Norwich equalised within two minutes of the second half, however, when Hoolahan bundled the ball over from close range, and it was the hosts who had the best chance to win it when Jerome blazed one over with the goal gaping.

That is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what really was a game of two halves between Norwich and Everton. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!