Everton is locked in a battle to avoid relegation, sitting precariously in 16th place in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone. Their recent form has been dismal, with only one victory in their last 11 league outings, complemented by six draws and four losses.
Recent back-to-back defeats against Nottingham Forest (2-0) and Bournemouth (1-0) have further compounded their struggles. The loss to Bournemouth ultimately led to the dismissal of manager Sean Dyche. Everton hosted Peterborough in the FA Cup last Thursday, hoping to spark a turnaround in their fortunes.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, is chasing European qualification and currently holds 8th place in the league, just four points behind the top four. Despite their aspirations, inconsistency has hampered Villa’s progress, with their last five matches yielding two wins, two losses, and one draw.
They suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, followed by a 2-2 draw with Brighton, a narrow 2-1 win over Leicester, and a recent FA Cup tie against West Ham. Aston Villa is also in contention for Champions League advancement, sitting 5th in their group and aiming for direct entry into the Round of 16.
Everton is dealing with several absences for this game. Key playmaker Dwight McNeil, who has scored three goals this season, is unavailable, alongside striker Armando Broja, full-back Seamus Coleman, and midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam.
Everton’s attacking struggles are apparent, as they rank 19th in the league for goals scored. Cheikh Ndiaye, with three goals to his name, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has netted just twice, are expected to shoulder the attacking responsibility.
Aston Villa also has injury concerns, with key midfielder John McGinn ruled out and doubts surrounding defenders Pau Torres and Diego Carlos.
However, the team will benefit from the return of Jack Rogers (6 goals, 3 assists) and Jhon Durán (7 goals) following suspensions. Leading the charge upfront will likely be Ollie Watkins, who has been a standout performer with eight goals and four assists in the league.
Prediction
Recent matches involving Everton have been low-scoring, with nine of their last ten games featuring two or fewer goals, including their last seven in succession. Similarly, Aston Villa’s last five away fixtures have all ended with under three goals. This trend suggests a tight and defensive contest at Goodison Park, with few clear scoring opportunities.
Prediction: Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
