Everton forward Alex Iwobi is available for Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho on Tuesday after a second Covid-19 test came out "negative", team spokesman Babafemi Raji said.

Alex Iwobi will not be available for Nigeria's final 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho after testing positive for Covid-19, officials told AFP on Monday.

Everton has secured planning permission for a £500 million ($705 million) 53,000-capacity stadium in Liverpool's docklands as they seek to compete with the Premier League's "Big Six".

Liverpool face Premier League pacesetters, Everton, this weekend determined to prove their 7-2 drubbing by Aston Villa was just a bizarre blip while misfiring Manchester United could slip into the relegation zone.

Everton has signed defender Ben Godfrey from Norwich on a five-year contract for an initial fee reported to be around £25 million ($32 million) in the first major move of transfer deadline day.

Everton and England defender Michael Keane said on Wednesday that players will be able to return to Premier League action after only a "couple of weeks' proper training".

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident that Manchester United will not repeat last season's embarrassing "capitulation" against Everton as they seek to strengthen their push for a Champions League place.

All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge and the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this weekend as they battle to qualify for next season's Champions League heats up, while runaway leaders Liverpool can take another step towards the title.

Everton insisted Monday they had yet to make a contract offer to a potential new manager after a report that Carlo Ancelotti had agreed "in principle" to take over at Goodison Park.

Rafael Benitez insisted on Monday there is "no chance" he will fill the managerial vacancies at either Arsenal or Everton, but he refused to completely rule out a return to the Premier League.

Liverpool surged eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Divock Origi was the scourge of Everton once more in a thrilling 5-2 Merseyside derby win for the European champions at Anfield.

Arsenal's decision to sack Unai Emery turns a harsh spotlight on Everton boss Marco Silva and West Ham's Manuel Pellegrini, who are running out of time to save their Premier League jobs.