Live Updates
  • Michael Keane opens the scoring with first Everton goal.
  • Match temporarily halted after 32 minutes after Hajduk fans clash with stewards.
  • Idrissa Gueye doubles lead before half-time.
  • Gylfi Sigurdsson presented to fans after completing move from Swansea City.

Well that is all we've got time for on this Europa League live text. We're back this weekend with more action from the Premier League but until then goodbye.

Full time: Everton 2-0 Hadjuk Split

Half-time in this Europa League play-off but there is little doubt the advantage is with Everton. Goals from Michael Keane and a Idrissa Gueye in the first half means they taken a two-goal lead into the second leg in Croatia next week and are bid favourites to go through.

Wonderful chance for Hajduk to claim an away goal. A ball across the face of goal is cleared by Baines but when a wayward Rooney pass sees the visitors come again, Erceg forces Pickford into a good near-post save.

Everton pushing for a goal which would end this tie as a contest. Martina again runs down the right and it takes a good save from Stipica to deny Lookman, who was in an offside position anyway.

Everton's levels have dropped and the Croatians are coming back into the game. Wayne Rooney is trying to galvanise his troops as Hamza Barry strikes wide of goal.

Erceg and Said on for Ohaandza and Kuzulj for Hajduk Split. Already feels like the final throw of the dice. A third goal kills this tie as a contest.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin on for Davy Klaassen, who has had another good night. He will go up top, with Wayne Rooney playing in behind.

Pickford thrust into the action as Hajduk Split threaten. The ex-Sunderland man palms away a shot from Ohandza, after Idrissa Gueye was disposed. Worth his weight in gold in that goalkeeper.

With Man City to come on Monday, will Ronald Koeman opt to slow the intensity and maybe pull one or two in this second half? A slow start to the half it must be said, and they'll need every ounce of their fortitude to get a result at the Etihad Stadium.

Martina getting down the right again and he crosses for Rooney, who glances his header wide. Everton could be out of sight here.

More footage emerging from Goodison Park after that incident which marred the first half.

Players out for the second half. A change for Everton as Tom Davies comes on for Morgan Schneiderlin. And we're back underway.

Idrissa Gueye celebrates putting Everton 2-0 up.

Idrissa Gueye
Getty Images

Half time: Everton 2-0 Hajduk Split

Just about the perfect half for Everton. A decent work-out for their fourth game of the season and a comfortable lead to take into the break. Goals for Michael Keane, his first in Toffees blue, and Idrissa Gueye have the hosts in complete command. Hajduk Split's most notable contribution came courtesy of their fans, who engaged in some angry clashes with stewards - forcing the game to be stopped - but otherwise they have offered nothing. Dream night for Ronald Koeman.

Rooney should make it three in the fifth minute of added on time, but Stipica gets down to make the save. That would have ended the tie, surely.

Michael Keane heads home his first Everton goal to give the hosts the lead.

Michael Keane
Getty Images

Jordan Pickford finally has something to do, saving from Vlasic as Hajduk try to find a way back into the game. We're now deep into stoppage time.

GOAL! Everton 2-0 Hajduk Split (Idrissa Gueye)

That is a really fine goal for Everton and they double their lead, and you can't deny them their position of dominance. Klaassen and Rooney combine to release Gueye on the edge of the box and he slides the ball beyond Stipica. Easy peasy.

Lookman hauled down on the edge of the box and Hysen Memolla receives a yellow card. Leighton Baines over this at the left-hand corner of the box. The England man floats the ball into the box but Hajduk deal with it well and head it clear.

Some footage here of the clashes between those Hajduk fans and stewards and police.

Ball in the net for Everton, as Hajduk fans start to fight amongst themselves. Klaassen pick-pockets an opponents and releases Rooney, but the forward broke a fraction too early and though he strokes the ball home the assistant raises his flag.

This is a view of the Hajduk fans, while goaded by some Evertonians, clashing with stewards. The players have returned to their positions and the game is back underway.

The game has taken a rather sour turn, with Hajduk Split fans having kicked down the advertising hoardings and are confronting the stewards on that side of the pitch. The referee has actually stopped the game and removed from the field of play.

The Hajduk players are going over to that side of the field to appeal to their own fans to stop the trouble which has halted this game. A pretty dramatic incident in this first half.

GOAL! Everton 1-0 Hajduk Split (Michael Keane)

The Toffees convert their dominance and get the opening goal on the half hour. Another corner is only half cleared and Leighton Baines drives into the box and stands the ball up to the back post where Keane outmuscles his man and heads beyond Stipica.

Another Everton corner is headed out and it falls to Leighton Baines who can't get over the ball and it balloons over the bar.

In other news, away from Goodison Park.....

Yellow card for Morgan Schneiderlin for a nasty tackle on Kozulj as both players dived in. That came after another near-miss as Martina was begging to be converted, but there was not a single Everton shirt in the vicinity.

Hajduk Split fans making themselves heard at Goodison.

Hajduk Split
Getty Images

Ademola Lookman really at the races tonight and looks like he could give the Hajduk back-four a torrid evening. He turns in the box and wins a corner. It comes to nothing, but the visitors have been warned.

Davy Klaassen so close to his first Everton goal. Rooney looks electric off the front and when he finds Martina his driven cross is just beyond the Dutchman. Everton have started completely on top.

Here comes that minute's applause for Rhys Jones on the 10th anniversary of his death. A nice moment on Merseyside.

As you might expect, Everton enjoying a lot of the ball in the early stages. Cuco Martina's cross is clawed away by the nervy-looking Stipica before Baines' cross falls to Klaassen, who smashes over.

Wayne Rooney with a terrific touch to beat Hajduk skipper Nizic on the half-way line, who has no choice but to drag the England striker to the floor. No yellow card for the defender however, somewhat surprisingly.

Gylfi Sigurdsson being unveiled to the Everton crowd before kick-off. £45m of real estate from Iceland. Ronald Koeman believes he can fire the club into the Champions League. We'll see.

Gylfi Sigurdsson
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Underway at Goodison Park. A straight shoot-out for the Europa League group stage.

The players are out and there is a decent amount of noise emanating from the blue half of Merseyside. Kick-off fast approaching.

We're approaching kick-off at Goodison Park and remember you can follow the whole thing with IBTimes UK. At the top of this page there is a live stream of the game, while I'll be highlighting some of the key points during the game. You won't miss a kick.

If you Everton fans are looking for a good omen ahead of tonight, then have a gander at Split's record against English sides. In short, they have never won in England in seven attempts, their most recent coming against Stoke City in 2011 when they were beaten 1-0.

Everton's Croatian opponents have arrived at Goodison Park.

Not a bad way to build the atmosphere at Goodison Park. Though I'm more of a Cigarettes and Alcohol type of guy. And as for my favourite Oasis song.....

As expected, Gylfi Sigurdsson will be presented to the crowd tonight. He is not fit enough to make his debut, but could he be involved at Manchester City?

This, on the 10th anniversary of his murder, is a nice touch from the Everton faithful. Always found them to be among the most compassionate of fans.

So a bit on Hadjuk split as we enter the final hour before kick-off on Merseyside. They finished third in the Croatian top flight last term but have not won the title for 12 years, their last major honour.

Their European record is hardly one for the annuls of history, but they have reached the Champions League last eight three times, the last in 1995. Just one have they got to the semi-finals in this competition, all the way back in 1984.

The Croatian's have now confirmed their team. Note: Gareth Barry not among the eleven.

Hajduk Split: Stipica, Carbonieri, Barry, Vlasic, Ohandza, Radosevic, Juranovic, Kozulj, Nizic, Memolia, Gentsoglou.

In a year where we are seeing the live sport landscape changing seemingly on the daily basis, it is interesting that we are seeing YouTube return to the party. They showed the Champions League final in May, and have previously shown events such as the Indian Premier League. How long before Premier League games are shown? I doubt we're too far away from that.

Three changes for Everton from the win over Stoke. Kevin Mirallas, Ademola Lookman and Cuco Martina are in for Sandro Ramirez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Phil Jagielka. Here is the team in full:

Everton: Pickford, Martina, Keane, Williams, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Mirallas, Klaassen, Lookman, Rooney

Everton's team is through the door. Up to you to put names to the faces.

Everton have made 11 signings this summer - with Gylfi Sigurdsson set to become number 12 - and they have started the campaign in a polished manner with three 1-0 wins. They opened their Premier League account with a narrow victory over Watford courtesy of Wayne Rooney's header - his first goal since returning to Merseyside.

No broadcaster has taken the option of showing this one so the game will be shown via Everton's YouTube channel. You can also watch the game at the top of this page, so IBTimes UK will have comprehensive coverage of the game. You need not go anywhere, really.

Team news should be with us in the next 30 minutes or so, but how do we expect Everton to line-up tonight?

As mentioned at the top there is no Gylfi Sigurdsson, but expect the Icelander to be in attendance tonight.

Elsewhere, there is no Ross Barkley due to a hamstring tear, not to mention having been made surplus to requirements by Ronald Koeman. Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are also out.

You would be forgiven for thinking that you had to wait another few days for your latest offering from the new football season, but the Europa League play-offs have come to rescue your Thursday night. The only English entrant in competition, Everton, are one two-legged tie away from the group stage but they have to overcome another tricky tie to get there.

Hajduk Split might be a name well known to some of you connoisseurs of European football, but the reality is there history at this level is pretty modest. But can Everton grab a fourth straight win in a row tonight and put one foot in the next stage? Stay with us to find out.

Team news and updates ahead of the 8:05pm kick-off on the way.