Everton welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park in a crucial Saturday Night Football clash, as Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees look to boost their top four dreams.
Victory will take Everton up to fifth until Sunday evening whereas Villa can go ninth with a win if Leeds lose at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Michael Keane is available for Everton after recovering from a hamstring strain which kept him out of last weekend’s win at Arsenal.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) and Jean-Philippe Gbamin (knee) are still absent
Villa could welcome Matty Cash back into contention after he served an one match ban in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against West Brom.
Morgan Sanson, Trezeguet (both knee) and Jack Grealish (calf) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Everton are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against Aston Villa (W2, D1, L2).
- Villa have failed to win any of their last eight league trips to Goodison Park (D5, L3), with both teams scoring in all five draws.
- Only one of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 14 league goals for Everton this season came on his left foot.
- Ten of Jack Grealish’s 16 Premier League assists for Villa have come in this season alone.
- Everton won their only previous Premier League home game refereed by Simon Hooper this season, defeating Brighton 4-2 in early October.
Prediction
As the first team amongst those sat fifth to eighth to play this weekend, this is a huge opportunity for Everton to put themselves right back in the mix and shift the pressure to Liverpool and Tottenham and this is their best opportunity as Villa aren’t playing for anything.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees however needs to focus on improving their end product because they were great at carving Arsenal open last time out, yet failed to convert their chances into goals especially when goal difference could prove crucial come the final day.
Villa meanwhile played well in their draw against West Brom with pressure but defensive mistakes cost them a result, yet I do expect them to come here and give Everton a proper contest but I am going for a home win if Everton can take their chances.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Aston Villa
Result: Everton 1-2 Aston Villa
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