Saturday’s early game comes from Villa Park, where we see the Villains take on the Toffees, and this will be like taking candy from a baby for the home side. With both sides suffering open day defeats, Former England midfielders Gerrard and Lampard, who are today’s managers, will both be looking to get something out of the game. New signings Kamara and Carlos can get their Villa careers up and running and give the Holte End something to shout about. After Coutinho made his loan move from Barca permanent, he’ll be the key holder tasked with picking the locks to the Everton defence.
Of which they’ve brought in vast experience and leadership in the shape of former Wolves and Burnley captains Coady and Tarkowski.
Having lost 0-2 away at the Vitality Stadium last week in a match that saw Villa have 66% possession and 15 goal attempts, we’re unable to find the back of the net. I see a shift in the luck here with their strike force baying for blood, and a record of 14 wins from 27 games at home could see a big win for Villa If they can score early on. Last season saw Villa do the double over Everton, with a 3-0 victory courtesy of an outstanding 21 minute display from substitute Bailey who had a hand in the first 2 goals and scored the third only to pick up an injury and be subbed. The away fixture saw Villa under the cosh for the majority of the game, but Buendia scored just before H/T to nick a 0-1 win.
Everton kicked off their campaign at home to Chelsea, losing only 0-1, to a Jorginho penalty. Chelsea controlled possession in the F/H, and Everton came back at them in the second but unfortunately couldn’t find an equaliser. This will also be a stiff test for a newly composed back 5 who’ll be coming here looking to sit back and nullify any threats, then try and hit the home side on the counter attack.
Recent H2Hs show that Villa are unbeaten in last 5 games (W3,D2) and they will hope to make this their third straight win. Everton comes here looking for their first win at Villa Park since 2016. Although this is the first meeting between both managers, Lampard played 34 times as a player against Gerrard winning 16 times.
Key stats
* Everton only scored twice in last 6 H2Hs
* 50% BTTS in last 10 H2Hs
* Only 2 home wins for Villa from last 10 PL games
* Just 1 away win for Everton from last 10 PL games
* Villa undefeated in last 6 matches against Everton (W4,D2)
I see a closely fought encounter here with Villa just edging it, 2-1. While Ings loves scoring against Everton, 6 times already in his career I see him opening the scoring. Everton could take advantage of how poorly Villa defend set-pieces and equalise, more than likely setting up a tense finale which could see a late winner come from the fresh legs of a Villa substitute.
