Seamus Coleman writes his pre-match programme notes ahead of Monday's Premier League visit of Southampton to Goodison. To order the official programme - which features exclusive interviews with Lucas Digne, Tom Davies and Preki - click here.

Hello everyone and welcome to tonight’s game.

There’s only one place to start my notes and that’s the Merseyside derby!

It was a terrific win for us at Anfield, one that was long overdue and one we thoroughly deserved.

The lads put in a great shift and we matched Liverpool in every department, which is exactly what you have to do to get a result over there.

Our record at Anfield has been regularly used as a stick to beat us with and I had no argument with that because too many times over the years we have let ourselves down in those games. And just as importantly we have let you down with the results. But not last Saturday. 

I am sure each and every one of you was very proud of the players and although you couldn’t celebrate in the way you would have wanted after all this time, I know you’ll have enjoyed the moment.

We certainly did! The dressing room was bouncing after the game and that’s the way it should be. I have said many times that in football you have to enjoy the good times when they come around.

But it’s also vitally important that nights like that are not few and far between. We have shown on numerous occasions this season we are a match for anybody in this league and what we have to do now is marry that with consistency.

As soon as we got back to USM Finch Farm last week we set our sights on Southampton. Our home form has baffled me, I must be honest. The away results have been excellent but on our own patch we are dropping far too many points.

Quite why that is, I don’t know. It’s certainly not for the lack of effort but we all know we have to be much better here at Goodison. It’s our home but it’s not been the fortress that we want it to be.

I was told after the Liverpool game that I had made my 300th start for Everton. That’s a figure that I am immensely proud of. When I first came over from Sligo Rovers, if someone had told me that I would captain Everton to a win at Anfield in my 300th start for the Club I would have thought they were mad!

But to be in the top 30 on the all-time appearance list for this amazing football club is surreal for me and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way.

Hopefully, there’s still a few more to come!

Stay safe,
Seamus