Everton have defeated Watford 1-0 at Goodison Park in their final home match of 2016-17.
The Blues' winner came in the second half from midfielder Ross Barkley, amid intense speculation surrounding the players' future at the club.
The result had no bearing on Everton's final placement in the league table, with the Toffees already been confirmed in seventh place in the final standings ahead of kickoff.
Find out of the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
6.48pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of Everton's Premier League clash with Watford, a match which is essentially meaningless for the hosts while the Hornets could guarantee their place in the top flight for next season by avoiding defeat. First up, team news...
6.52pmEVERTON XI: Robles; Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Davies, Mirallas, Barkley; Lukaku
6.52pmWATFORD XI: Gomes, Mariappa, Kabasele, Prodl, Janmaat, Behrami, Holebas, Doucoure, Capoue, Okaka, Deeney
6.53pmSo there's our lineups and the big news for Everton is that Ross Barkley has reclaimed his place in the side. The attacking midfielder made the headlines this week after manager Ronald Koeman gave him an ultimatum - commit to a new contract or be sold off.
© SilverHub
6.55pmAlso of note for Evertonians is the return of Morgan Schneiderlin to the engine room. He's been out for two matches with a thigh strain but has been drafted in to replace Gareth Barry. Meanwhile, youngster Mason Holgate keeps his place at right-back and there's a change in goal due to Maarten Stekelenburg's groin injury - Joel Robles starts between the sticks.
6.59pmWatford have made several changes from last weekend's defeat to Leicester, with Troy Deeney returning to the attack. Loanee Tom Cleverley is ineligible to face his parent club but Jose Holebas is fit to replace him after recovering from a foot injury. Ben Watson has also returned to fitness to claim a spot on the bench.
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7.03pmFor Everton, this match is the very definition of dead rubber. They sealed seventh place and Europa League football two matches ago and finishing higher or lower in the final standings is a mathematically impossibility. However, they do have some critics to answer as some supporters have questioned their recent performances and accused them of clocking off for pre-season early.
7.07pmThere's a little more at stake for Watford, but not much. They are ALMOST guaranteed Premier League football next season, heading into the match in 15th place - six points clear of the dropzone with a massive goal difference over Hull City in 18th. One point from their final three matches will do it, but even if they lose them all, there's a very good chance they will stay up.
7.11pmEverton are the favourites this evening, and with good reason. They have defeated Watford in nine of their last 10 attempts at Goodison Park and only Liverpool and Chelsea have beaten the Blues at this ground since Koeman took charge.
7.15pmSome news coming out of the Everton camp - Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas has signed a new deal until June 2020...
😀 | Another day, another suit. Looking good, Kev! Here's to the next three years. #EFC pic.twitter.com/b9rvyrc4bi
— Everton (@Everton) May 12, 2017
7.18pmBack to the match and although Everton's historical record against Watford is solid, their more recent form might give them cause for concern. The Hornets ended a long-running hoodoo last time they were at Goodison by holding the Blues to a 2-2 draw last season and actually beat them in the reverse fixture this term.
7.21pmEverton haven't been firing in front of goal these past few matches. In fact, they've gone three league games without a goal for the first time since a four-match barren spell in April 2006. Some of their supporters have suggested that the drought could be due to top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku's mind being elsewhere.
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7.25pmThe Premier League's top goalscorer has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere after rejecting the offer of a new contract earlier this season. To many, his recent performances have sent out a clear message - 'I'll be gone this summer'.
7.28pmHow much will the Blues miss his presence? Rom has scored 14 goals in his last 10 appearances at Goodison Park and Everton's best-in-the-division shot accuracy of 41% on target has a lot to do with his prowess in the final third.
7.32pmFrom a team whose biggest problem is keeping hold of their top scorer, to one who cannot score at all - Watford have failed to find the net in FIVE consecutive away games, losing all of them. And listen to this stat - Walter Mazzarri's side have only managed one goal in their last eight hours and 11 minutes of football. Ouch!
7.35pmPREDICTION: Neither side is winding up their season in the best of form, but I think Everton will be comfortable winners tonight. History and recent stats suggest a 2-0 to the hosts, and I wouldn't argue with that.
7.37pmOh and there's a bit more at stake in tonight's other Premier League fixture as Chelsea can wrap up the title if they win at West Bromwich Albion. Live updates from that one can be found here.
"It's not just Chelsea playing tonight, Everton v Watford is on too!" pic.twitter.com/YVUC044Qjp
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 12, 2017
7.41pmThere's a decent crowd here at Goodison Park who will be hoping their side can finish Koeman's first season in charge on a high note. Minute-by-minute updates from the match coming up...
1 minKICKOFF! Watford get us underway at a rain-battered Goodison Park. It's really coming down here in Liverpool, and that could well have a bearing on the quality of football here tonight.
4 minJose Holebas and Daryl Janmaat link up well as Watford attempt to stage an early attack, but the move breaks down before it has even begun. At the other end of the park, Ross Barkley doesn't quite have the legs to reach onto a long ball as it bobbles over the saturated surface.
6 minSHOT! The game springs into action as Barkley reclaims possession in the box and shoots low towards the bottom corner. Heurelho Gomes gets down quickly and saves well, but the England international should have done better and broken the deadlock there.
8 minThe first corner of the evening falls Watford's way as Holebas's deflected effort goes wide. Janmaat steps up to take it himself, but his low cross is straight towards the feet of Ashley Williams, who clears his lines all too easily.
10 minTouching from the home supporters as they show solidarity for Aaron Lennon, who is battling mental health problems.
@Everton that says everything about evertonians pic.twitter.com/tChe96U7Xf
— Bill Addy (@addyconsultancy) May 12, 2017
10 minCHANCE! There's an opportunity for the visitors to get their noses in front as Jose Holebas's cross sparks a goalmouth scramble in the Everton box. Troy Deeney gets a shot away, but it's blocked and the Blues scramble the rebound clear.
13 minSAVE! Heurelho Gomes makes another smart save at his near post to keep the scoreline at 0-0. A corner came in from Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka met it with a volley, stinging the palms of the Hornets stopper.
15 minCLOSE! Poor stuff from Barkley who misplaces a pass in the final third and sends Okaka through on goal. The Watford man shoots quickly and his effort flashes past Robles's near post - the Blues almost shot themselves in the foot there!
18 minOkaka out-muscles both Romelu Lukaku and Idrissa Gueye to win the ball - there aren't many players who can do that! But Williams dispossesses him moments later to stop Watford's break in its tracks.
20 minThis says it all about Watford's problems and what Everton will lose if Lukaku moves on to pastures new in the summer...
15 - Watford (15) have only scored one goal more in the PL in 2017 than Romelu Lukaku has scored on his own for Everton (14). Resources.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 12, 2017
22 minSAVE! Yet another good stop from Gomes, this time to deny young Tom Davies. The Everton prospect gains possession and midfield and goes on a lung-busting run, aided by a decoy run from Kevin Mirallas. Davies pulls the trigger and finds plenty of power, but his shot is too close to Gomes, who can only parry!
24 minEverton look threatening along the flanks, with Baines and Holgate racing forward to provide support. Davies has also covered a lot of ground in the middle of the park, but Watford have held their own for long spells and have threatened through the powerful Stefano Okaka.
26 minThere's a half-chance for Okaka as he finds a way past Holgate in the box. His initial strike is straight at Robles, who spills initially spills the ball before recovering and claiming it. The rainy conditions almost worked in Watford's favour there.
30 minCHANCE! Holebas plays a cross into the six-yard box and Mariappa jumps highest to meet it, heading the ball over. He should have done better there, but Koeman should be concerned about the chances Watford are being allowed to create. Holebas got past Mirallas on the right flank far too easily there!
33 minThere's a break in play as Deeney goes flying in on Gueye. The foul was more down to the wet conditions than malice, but the ref should have played an advantage there as Schneiderlin was in possession.
35 minGood defending from Prodl who allows Lukaku to swivel onto his favoured foot before quickly dispossessing him. He lured the Belgian into a false sense of security there, before closing him down.
36 minHe's been the standout player for Watford tonight...
📷 | 25 touches & three clearances so far from José Holebas, who returned to the #watfordfc starting line-up this evening. (0-0). pic.twitter.com/9uqYsPLDEg
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC) May 12, 2017
37 minWATFORD SUB: Watford as forced into a change as Kabasele goes off injured. Zuniga is his replacement and that will see the Hornets shift to a flat back four.
39 minThere's a bit of handbags involving players from both sides after Janmaat fouls Davies. A dozen or so get involved in the aftermath, with Janmaat and Behrami shown yellow cards for their part in the scuffle.
42 minEverton aren't firing on all cylinders and need to start making better use of their width by bringing Mirallas and Baines into the game more. They look the more likely to break the deadlock but are a long way from their best tonight.
43 minBarkley has been particularly poor, losing his footing and misplacing passes. He's just blazed a shot into the stand - is the speculation regarding his future affecting his game?
45 minIdrissa Gueye's through-pass almost sends Lukaku through on goal, but it ricochets off the Belgian at full stretch and goes out for a goalkick. There will be three minutes of stoppage time to play in the first period.
45+3 minHALF TIME: Everton 0-0 Watford
8.35pmThere was almost an opportunity for Everton right on the stroke of half time there as Mirallas exploited a gap in the Watford defence and ran through the middle. He had Lukaku to his left and Barkley to his right, but overhits a pass to the Belgian when Barkley was actually in a better position. The move breaks down due to poor decision-making from Mirallas.
8.36pmThis game could really have used a goal at that moment to bring it to life. Everton started well and forced a few good saves from Gomes, but their desire to attack Watford and ideas in the final third appear to have dried up.
8.38pmWatford haven't offered a great deal, but Okaka waned Everton that they will need to remain alert tonight with a strike that whizzed past Robles's near post in the 15th minute.
8.42pmBoth teams are heading back out onto the pitch now. Minute-by-minute updates from the second half coming up...
46 minKICK OFF: Everton get the match back underway and the Blues have made an attacking change at the interval, with Enner Valencia coming on for Mason Holgate.
48 minCHANCE! Valencia does well to latch onto a through-ball and surge into the box, but he takes one touch too many and ends up at the byline. The Ecuadorian attempts to play a low pass across the face of goal, but Gomes smothers it at his near post.
51 minEverton are showing a bit more deserve to attack in the second half. Lukaku plays a long ball which floats over the Watford area and picks out Valencia on the left flank. Baines arrives in support but his return cross has too much on it for Lukaku.
53 minValencia's introduction has added something to Everton going forward. He's running into space and covering a lot of ground in the final third, giving the Watford defence something to think about.
54 minThere's a chance for Watford as Janmaat squares for Deeney inside the box. The Hornets skipper shoots first time but his effort ends up on the wrong side of the post. Catching Everton on the break looks like their best option tonight.
56 minGOAL! Everton 1-0 Watford (Ross Barkley)
56 minBrilliant finish from Barkley, who collects a ball over the top from Jagielka, wrong-foots Prodl and bends a shot beyond Gomes into the net. The midfielder didn't have a great first half, but he has just shown what he is capable of right there!
59 minThat asks big questions of Watford. Do they have the mettle to come back from a goal down away from home? Recent form suggests they absolutely do not, but they will be determined to answer their critics tonight.
61 minWalter Mazzarri cuts a despondent figure on the touchline. His players haven't given him much to be cheery about this evening, but you'd think he'd be given credit for keeping them in the Premier League. Instead we keep hearing reports that he will be shown the door this summer.
64 minPENALTY CLAIM! And it's a strong one! Mirallas shoots for goal and Gomes parries the shot, allowing the lurking Lukaku to move in for the pounce. Janmaat lunges in hard and bowls the Belgian over - it looks like a clear cut penalty, but the replay appears to show that Janmaat got the ball... just.
67 minEverton have claimed 71% of the possession in the second half. That must have been some half-time teamtalk from Koeman. The introduction of Valencia has also made them more unpredictable going forward.
68 minHere's one thing that Barkley brings to the Everton side. Will he be bringing it elsewhere next season? Who knows?
8 - Only Mikel Arteta (10) has scored more Premier League goals from outside the box for Everton than Ross Barkley (8). Range.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 12, 2017
69 minIt takes a last-ditch block from Schneiderlin to keep out Okaka in the box. Good defending from the Frenchman.
70 minBOOKING! It's a yellow card for Holebas, who goes into the book for dissent. Moments later, Okaka gets his head to a decent Amrabat cross, but Williams is on hand to hook the ball clear. Good awareness from the Wales captain.
74 minEverton are playing good, expressive football in the second period. Players are drifting from their positions and Watford don't know what to expect from each attack. We've got Lukaku surging to the left to put crosses in to his teammates, Davies drifting wide and Valencia playing right across the final third.
77 minHolebas has been Watford's most creative player but there has been no end product from the Hornets tonight. Okaka has proved a powerful presence in the final third, but the visitors are struggling to make that presence felt.
79 minAnother poignant moment from the stands tonight.
73' The Watford fans start to sing 'One Graham Taylor' - the rest of Goodison applauds in tribute to the late former Hornets boss. #EFC pic.twitter.com/HHjUXlbBLk
— Everton (@Everton) May 12, 2017
80 minSUBSTITUTION: Gareth Barry comes on to replace Barkley, who leaves the park to a standing ovation. No doubt there are many fans who are hoping this won't be the last time we see Barkley play for Everton at Goodison Park.
84 minSUBSTITUTION: Here's something of a rarity - Arouna Kone is getting a runout, coming on for Mirallas. The Belgian gets a standing ovation as well, not doubt in approval of his decision to sign a new contract.
86 minGREAT SAVE! Gomes has been on top form all evening, but it's Robles time to shine. The Spaniard reacts quickly to keep out Okaka at close range. A brilliant reaction stop from the Everton goalkeeper, who has had very little to do all evening.
89 minSAVE! There's another good save from Gomes, who denies Valencia from point-blank range. The Ecuadorian chases down a long ball after Lukaku makes a dummy run, but the Brazilian goalkeeper races from his line, makes himself big and stops Valencia in his tracks.
90 minThere will be five minutes of stoppage time to play.
90+5 minFULL TIME: Everton 1-0 Watford
9.40pmWell it wasn't exactly pretty, but it's another win for Everton at Goodison Park. They were just about worthy winners as Watford didn't ask many questions in the final third.
9.41pmRoss Barkley was the difference between the two sides during a week when his future at Everton came under intense scrutiny. And speaking of the future, Everton's looks bright given that they have secured Europa League football and have solid investment behind them.
9.45pmAs for Watford, their abysmal form continues but their current points haul should be enough to keep them in the top flight. Whether that's with Walter Mazzarri on charge is a whole other matter, though.
9.49pmAnd that's all we have time for at Goodison Park, but stick with Sports Mole because Chelsea are on the verge of winning the Premier League title. They lead 1-0 at West Brom in the closing stages and you can follow their progress here.
9.53pmThe full-time whistle has now sounded at West Brom and Chelsea are Premier League champions. And on that note, we're going to say thanks for reading and congratulations, Chelsea!
