After an eventful weekend for Everton, despite them not playing, attentions turn back onto on field matters as they travel to Villa Park to take on bottom placed Aston Villa on Tuesday night. This will be Everton’s first league game in nearly 3 weeks, and they will look to bounce back from the disappointing 1-0 home loss to West Brom, despite having 34 shots during the game. Since that game, they did advance to the Quarter finals of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Despite the season not panning out as planned, the latest news of new investment has undoubtedly lifted the gloom around Goodison with seemingly a renewed vigour amongst the supporters. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Aston Villa who have had a season from hell, and sit anchored to the bottom of the table and resigned to relegation. Aston Villa are coming off a 2-1 defeat away to Stoke City on the weekend, and they will be hoping to put in a better performance in front of their fans after last home games 6-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Everton will be looking to finish the season strong after the news of recent investment and could still be in the hunt for Europa places, as for Villa, they need to put in a performance in front of their home fans, and they need 3pts to have any chance of staving off relegation.
Aston Villa Team News:
Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of striker Jordan Ayew after he finished serving his 3 match ban. The Villians will still be without the services of Jack Grealish (ankle), Amavi (knee), Sanchez (hamstring), Traore (foot) and Kozak (foot/ankle), although the last three could be back within a fortnight.
Possible Starting XI: Bunn, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho, Veretout, Westwood, Gueye, Bacuna, Agbonlahor, Sinclair
Player to watch: Gabriel Agbonlahor
The Aston Villa stalwart has struggled for consistency in this Villa side this season, but he has tormented this Everton side numerous times in the past, mainly when Villa were up with Everton competing for European spots. Agbonlahor has 7 goals against the Toffees, which is his best goal return against any side. Possession will be limited for Villa you would imagine, therefore, you would think Villa will try and play on the counter, and that seems to suit Agbonlahor’s style of play, and his pace could trouble the Everton defenders.
Everton Team News:
Everton have had the luxury of a trip to Dubai for some warm weather training since their last game a fortnight ago, and it has given some players with injury concerns a chance to heal. Martinez will have more or less a fully strength squad to choose from, with the likes of Stones (hamstring) and Baines (knock) recovering from their respective injuries. The game will come too soon for Mo Besic, who is still out with a hamstring injury, but the Bosnian is expected to be available for the game on the weekend. The only absentees are long term absentees Hibbert (knee), Browning (knee) and Gibson.
Possible Starting XI: Robles, Baines, Coleman, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Barry, McCarthy, Barkley, Lennon, Deulofeu, Lukaku
Player to watch: Romelu Lukaku
The big Belgian sits 2nd in the goal charts with 16, only 5 goals behind Aston Villa, and he does seem to enjoy playing Villa having scored 5 goals in his 4 appearances against them as an Everton player, and he will definitely look to add to that tally and try and catch Jamie Vardy. Lukaku was criticised a bit last season, although he has silenced those doubters this season living up to the 28mil price tag Everton paid for him nearly 2 years ago. Lukaku has everything needed to be a top striker in the league, he has the physicality, the pace, the eye for goal and the finishing, and he has put it all together this season.
Match Facts & Stats
1. This fixture is the most played top flight fixture in England with the two clubs having faced each other 201 times in the top flight, and 219 times in total. Head to head, Everton lead Aston Villa 81-80 in wins.
2. Aston Villa’s only win in the last 10 games over Everton was last season at home, where Villa won 3-2 with now Everton player Tom Cleverley scoring the winner.
3. Aston Villa have the league’s worst home record having taken only 10pts from 13 home games. Conversely, Everton have a decent away record having only lost once this season away from home, which came against Arsenal back in October.
4. Everton have only won 3 of their past 13 league games, losing 4 and drawn the other 6.
5. Aston Villa are the lowest scorers in the league having only managed 21 goals in 27 games. Everton are the 4th highest scorers with 46 goals.
Match Prediction:
The last 48-72hrs has been a whirlwind for Everton fans, and the disappointment of the season and the gloom has been lifted due to the news of new investment, and I think that will begin to show on the field with the fans having a bit of extra confidence with the club now. Conversely, Aston Villa fans are planning a walk out, which was present in the club’s last home game as well, and it really is a mess at Villa Park these days. Everton have struggled this season, but they did beat Villa 4-0 in the reverse fixture this season, and I think Everton, who also benefited from a 2 week break and a trip to Dubai to freshen up, will be too strong for this Villa side. I think Everton will win 3-1. COYB!!!! TIME TO FINISH THE SEASON STRONG AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE!!!!!
Next Fixtures:
Everton face 5th placed West Ham at Goodison Park on the weekend