Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Saturday live blog for all your very latest Everton news, rumours and transfer gossip.

The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Goodison Park as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.

The January transfer window is now officially open, which means Everton are able to bring in new players should they decide to do so!

Everton are being linked with a move for Lorient forward Terem Moffi, plus there is an update on the reported pursuit of Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom.

We'll also have all the reaction to Everton's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.

Get involved and send your thoughts to @LivEchoEFC.

And don't forget to subscribe to our free Everton FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Royal Blue Podcast, with all your favourite ECHO regulars including Joe Thomas, Chris Beesley, Connor O'Neill, Gavin Buckland and Paul Wheelock.

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Alex Iwobi sends five-word message after Everton injury blow

Everton star Alex Iwobi has sent a message to supporters after suffering an injury.

The Blues midfielder picked up an ankle injury during the defeat to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday night. Iwobi was forced to be stretchered off in the second half at Old Trafford.

The ECHO understands that Iwobi will undergo a scan on his ankle in the coming days, with initial fears suggesting it could be ligament damage.

MORE HERE.

Alex Iwobi was forced off injured in Everton's FA Cup tie against Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)

Farhad Moshiri 'in talks' with Qatar executives over Everton Stadium deal

Under-fire Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has reportedly held talks with Qatari Airways about acquiring naming rights for the club's new stadium on Bramley Moore Dock.

The search for a new partner has been on-going since Moshiri was forced to severe his links with Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov in the wake of the start of the war in Ukraine.

But according to the Mail, the Blues chief is understood to have held talks with Qatar Airways executives, although an agreement has not been reached. Moshiri was pictured in the Arab state during the World Cup last month.

The need to find a new partner became more pressing after plans with billionaire Usmanov had to be put on ice. The Russian oligarch's USM Holdings was paying Everton £12million a year for naming rights on the club's training ground plus a one-off payment of £30million for the option to purchase naming rights on the new riverfront stadium that is still under construction.

MORE HERE.

Everton FC owner Farhad Moshiri (R) and Everton FC Bill Kenwright (L) arrive at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on December 21, 2019.

Roberto Martinez strikes 'verbal agreement' for new role amid Everton rumours

Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has a 'verbal agreement' in place to become the next man in charge of the Portugal national side.

Martinez left his role as Belgium manager after they failed to make it out of the Group Stage of the World Cup, but he now looks set to take over another international role.

The Spaniard spent six years in charge of the Belgium side after he left Goodison Park in 2016 following three years at Everton.

MORE HERE.

Roberto Martinez of Belgium looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on December 1, 2022 (Image: Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Ian Wright and Roy Keane give verdict on Everton fan anger against board

Ian Wright has backed Everton supporters in there protests against Farhad Moshiri's ownership of the club, but Roy Keane has called for a greater resilience on the pitch.

The Toffees were dumped out of the FA Cup on Friday evening at the first time of asking, as they went down 3-1 against Manchester United. Conor Coady had cancelled out Antony's opener, only to put the ball in his own net in the second half before Marcus Rashford added a late third from the spot.

It was a spirited performance from the Blues who thought they had equalised late on via Dominic Calvert-Lewin, only to see the goal chalked off for offside. But some travelling supporters brought banners into Old Trafford, calling for the removal of the current board as Everton's underachievement on the pitch rumbles on.

MORE HERE.

Everton fans display banners protesting the club board during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 06, 2023.

Frank Lampard explains Everton fan exchange after Manchester United defeat

Frank Lampard during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 6, 2023 (Image: Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Frank Lampard said he led the move to applaud Everton's travelling support for his players and not himself.

The Blues boss, under pressure with his side in the relegation zone and having lost their last three games at home, appeared to make a point of showing his appreciation to the away end after his side fought hard before being overcome 3-1 by Manchester United in a thrilling FA Cup match.

He later explained what felt like a poignant moment was him making sure the players were aware that the fans will respect them when they leave everything on the pitch - something he credited them with having done.

Asked whether he thought the performance had won back some of the supporters after a difficult period, Lampard responded: "I don't know, I think the reaction at the end of the game probably speaks for how they saw the game because I think they saw the spirit of the team and the way we played. I think they saw that we deserved to get a result and that is good for the players to see because a lot of people want to focus on 'difficult nights' and 'what the crowd think' and I think today showed that fans will respect when you give everything for the club."

Lampard later added, when asked whether he had 'lingered' in the moment: "[The applause] was more for the players than for me really, because I think a lot gets said of Goodison the other night and how it became a difficult environment to play in. But it is good for the players to understand that when they give everything even in defeat there is a certain respect from the fans and all of them appreciated the players' performance so it was good to stay there for a moment and what we need to do is give them that feeling with results."

Read the full story HERE.

Amadou Onana floors Casemiro again as Everton fume at officials

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Casemiro of Manchester United in action with Amadou Onana of Everton during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 06, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Everton battled hard but were unable to overcome Manchester United in an entertaining FA Cup third round tie.

Yet while Frank Lampard could point to positives from the display - and the players appeared to fight for him - there were wider narratives at play. What the future holds for the Blues boss remains uncertain.

While focus may have been on Lampard, this was a game of fascinating duels across the pitch and which was defined by key events - including the ankle ligament injury that led to Alex Iwobi being stretchered off.

Amadou Onana was impressive in the middle on Friday night, winning battles and protecting possession under pressure. He was key to Everton getting back into the game and worked hard across an entertaining battle with Bruno Fernandes that saw the United player booked for a nasty late tackle on the Belgium international.

Onana's most influential moment came in the build up to Everton's equaliser, as he shrugged off Casemiro to win a ball headed into the box by Ben Godfrey. Onana then fed Neal Maupay, whose cross somehow squirmed through David de Gea's legs and into the path of Conor Coady.

Casemiro has been a big part of Man United's upturn in form but this was the second time Onana had got the better of him for a goal this season - the 21-year-old snatching the ball from him in the build up to Alex Iwobi's stunning strike at Goodison Park in October.

Beyond the highlights, check out a few more moments that may have gone unnoticed HERE.

New job for Martinez?

Ex-Everton manager Roberto Martinez is set to named the new man in charge of the Portugal national team after they parted ways with Fernando Santos following their quarter-final exit from the World Cup.

According to David Ornstein, Martinez has a 'verbal agreement' in place to become the new Portugal boss.

Conor Coady backs Frank Lampard

Conor Coady has insisted his Everton team-mates will continue to "fight" for manager Frank Lampard after being knocked out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford last night.

"I don't want to talk about that," Coady said. "The manager is fantastic, he's brilliant with all of us. In fact, he's outstanding with all of us. I think he understands the football club and is someone who wants to do right by the football club every single day and what he does with us every day is really good so we need to keep on listening to him.

"People look at it and say what they're going to say. We're going to keep on fighting every day for him, for the staff and most importantly, for the football club. We're listening to him every day, he's a fantastic manager, he's a fantastic person."

Everton defender Conor Coady

Looking ahead

Up next for Everton is a huge clash against bottom of the Premier League Southampton at Goodison Park a week today.

A win for Southampton would take them level on points with the Blues, but a win for Everton could catpult them up the table and increase confidence around the club.

Nathan Jones has lost all four league matches since being appointed as Saints boss.

Roy Keane and Ian Wright praise Everton fans

After the loss at Old Trafford last night, Everton fans were praised by Roy Keane and Ian Wright. 9000 Blues fans made the short trip to show their support for their side.

Speaking on ITV after the FA Cup match at Old Trafford, Wright said: "I’ve got no problem with the Everton fans doing that. I think the Everton fans should be saying that and the Everton board should be saying something to those fans. Those fans turn up, with the way Everton have been running the last few years, and they still turn up tonight after a hammering the other day, they should be saying something."

Chuka Akpom race

Southampton are said to be leading the race to sign Middlesbrough forward Chuka Akpom ahead of Everton. It is well documented how Frank Lampard is desperate to sign a new striker, but that is easier said than done for the Blues.

Nathan Jones' side are currently bottom of the Premier League and are willing to test Boro's resolve, according to TEAMtalk.

Akpom, a former Arsenal academy star, has 13 goals in the Championship this season and could help bolster the forward line of Everton.

Chuba Akpom (Image: (George Wood/Getty Images))

Dele Alli update

According to Sabah Sport, Besiktas wish to terminate Dele Alli's loan and send him back to Everton, but the Blues are unwilling to take the midfielder back.

It looks likely Alli will be staying in Turkey until the end of the season.

Frank Lampard on FA Cup exit

Frank Lampard spoke after the FA Cup exit to Manchester United last night.

"I think the fans saw that we deserved to get a result and that is good for the players to see because a lot of people want to focus on 'difficult nights' & 'what the crowd think' and I think today showed that fans will respect when you give everything for the club.”

Frank Lampard gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford

Conor Coady's admission

Conor Coady always speaks well and he was the one to face ITV Football after Everton exited the FA Cup thanks to a 3-1 loss away to Man United last night.

It was an eventful night for the former Wolves skipper as he scored for Everton and Man United. Coady admitted his Everton side were "gutted" to have lost.

"We came here with a plan and I'm not going to lie, we are in a bad way, we're in a bad place. It's something we want to get out of as quick as possible, everyone is feeling it, the players, everyone associated with the club. We came here with a plan and I thought we stuck to it really well.

"We played on the counter attack, we defended well exactly like we did against Manchester City last week and we stuck to it. To lose the game to an own goal and then the penalty against a top side, they are a top side by the way. To lose the game like that is absolute gutting. Everyone is absolutely gutted in there because we came here to try and disrupt, try and frustrate because that's what we've got to do at the minute.

"That's something we have to do in a moment we're really not enjoying and we want to get out of it as quickly as possible."

Conor Coady of Everton (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Out of the FA Cup

Last night, Everton were once again dumped out of the FA Cup before being able to put a run together as they lost 3-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The game started disasterously for Everton after Antony scored inside four minutes, but Conor Coady soon levelled after a farcial mistake from David De Gea.

Frank Lampard's side held their own as Conor Coady then scored an own goal. Demarai Gray was in great form and terrorised the United defence as he set up Dominic Calvert-Lewin's equaliser that was cruelly ruled offside.

A late Marcus Rashford penalty secured the win for Man United.

Frank Lampard and Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 6, 2023

Good morning everyone!

Good morning Blues fans and welcome back to our LIVE blog on all things Everton.

We'll discuss the FA Cup exit to Man United last night and all of the latest transfer news and rumours.

Stay tuned!

Joe Thomas' match verdict

And so defeat for Everton in the FA Cup.

But the 3-1 loss to Manchester United wasn't all bad for Frank Lampard, with the Toffees putting in a spirited display at Old Trafford.

Everton correspondent Joe Thomas writes in his match verdict: "Seamus Coleman burst his lungs to get forward. Demarai Gray cut inside. Dominic Calvert-Lewin bundled the ball in. The away end went wild. For the second time in a thrilling FA Cup match, Everton were level. And then they were not. VAR, once again, appeared to haunt Lampard just when it looked like he had a moment to savour.

"On the final whistle he, with the players, went to applaud an away end filled with more than 9,000 Blues that backed his team to the end of this 3-1 defeat. They were poignant scenes as Lampard's position hangs in the balance. Yet while Calvert-Lewin's 'goal' did not count, maybe the moment did."

Read more here.

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Good morning, Everton fans!

Good morning and welcome to our Everton live blog for Saturday, January 7th.

The January transfer window is officially open, so we will be providing you with the latest transfer rumours and gossip.

We will also be looking ahead to Everton's clash against Southampton in the Premier League next weekend.

Make sure you stay tuned!