Everton look to continue their strong start to the Premier League season against winless Aston Villa.
If Arsenal slip up at lunchtime, victory by three goals or more would put Everton top of the table until at least early Saturday evening.
Victory would lift Villa out of the relegation zone.
Team News
Everton could welcome Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Adam Aznou (ankle) back into contention, after the pair missed their 3-2 win at Wolves.
Nathan Patterson (hernia) remains absent.
Midfielder, Merlin Rohl could make his debut following his deadline day loan move from SC Freiburg.
Villa could hand Victor Lindelöf and Harvey Elliott their club debuts following their deadline day arrivals.
Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana (both hamstring), Matty Cash (quad) and Ross Barkley (fitness) face late checks but Andres Garcia (knock) remains sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday 13 September at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton are winless in their last 12 league meetings against Villa (D3, L9).
- Villa are unbeaten in their last six visits to Everton (W4, D2), although this is their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
- Villa’s Ollie Watkins scored three goals in two appearances against Everton last season (W2).
- Iliman Ndiaye has scored in each of Everton’s last two league matches (W2).
- Villa are yet to score a goal this season (D1, L2).
Prediction
Having already found their attacking groove in their last two league matches with a disciplined clinical win at Wolves where small defensive errors denied them a more comfortable victory, Everton now need to just continue building that confidence and momentum especially out wide on the attack.
Villa meanwhile lacked a clinical touch once more in their defeat against Palace which has to be of concern for Unai Emery as to how he motivates his team, although Lindelöf and Elliott should add fresh impetus across the pitch with their quality and experience.
I however do think that Villa ideally need to score first otherwise their six-match away unbeaten run against Everton will surely end, such is the Toffees’ form at present and my feeling is that this will be another home win for the hosts.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Aston Villa
Result: Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
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