David Moyes takes charge for his first game since returning to Everton against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
After the club parted ways with Sean Dyche just hours before their FA Cup third-round win over Peterborough last Thursday, the Toffees became a familiar face. Moyes spent more than a decade at Goodison Park before taking the Manchester United job in 2013, although he returns as the Premier League’s longest-serving manager after joining in 2002 as the division’s youngest .
His first task is to reactivate a group of players who had gone as far as they could under Dyche. The Toffees are currently 16th in the table and just one point above the relegation zone, but have played a game less than their relegation rivals.
everton they face a Villa side who have certainly suffered from the extra burden of Champions League football this season. The Villans have impressed on their return to Europe’s top club competition, but their domestic form has dipped.
Unai Emery’s side have won less than 50% of their league games so far. However, they beat Premier League opposition West Ham to move up the table FA Cup fourth round last week.
here it is 90 minutes wednesday guide Premier League shock
Everton vs Aston Villa H2H Record (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
everton |
Aston Villa |
|---|---|
|
Everton 2-0 Peterborough – 25/01/09 |
Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham – 10/01/25 |
|
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton – 25/04/01 |
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester – 04/01/25 |
|
Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest – 29/12/24 |
Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton – 30/12/24 |
|
Man City 1-1 Everton – 26/12/24 |
Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa – 26/12/24 |
|
Everton 0-0 Chelsea – 22/12/24 |
Aston Villa 2-1 Man City – 21/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
TNT Sports 2, discovery+ app, discovery+ |
|
united states |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
We shouldn’t expect drastic personnel changes from Moyes, or a systematic overhaul, but several players will return to the XI after being dropped for last Thursday’s FA Cup win against Peterborough.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the names to be included in Moyes’ starting line-up on Wednesday. Dwight McNeil, however, will miss out once again with a knee injury.
Everton fans may have seen the last of Armando Broja after he was forced off with what looked like a devastating knee injury last Thursday. Broja joins Tim Iroegbunam on the sidelines.
James Garner could return from a back problem after three months out.
Everton’s predicted line-up against Aston Villa (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
Emery may call on striker Jhon Duran after he served the final three-match ban on Friday night, but Ollie Watkins is likely to retain his place in the starting eleven.
Leon Bailey has returned to a more prominent role in John McGinn’s absence, with the Jamaican set for a starting spot on the right. McGinn is currently out with a hamstring problem.
Village they are also without Pau Torres due to a foot injury, while Diego Carlos is a doubt. Tyrone Mings looks set to partner Ezri Konsa at Goodison. Ross Barkley is out with a calf problem.
Aston Villa’s predicted line-up against Everton (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Watkins, Rogers.
Some Everton fans may hold some resentment towards Moyes for the way he left the club more than a decade ago, but there is no doubt the returning boss will receive a rapturous welcome at Goodison on Wednesday.
Moyes should build on the foundations laid by Dyche and ultimately turn Everton into a dangerous counter-attacking team that is perhaps less predictable out of possession. It won’t happen straight away, but hopefully the hosts will take inspiration from this.
Aston Villa are the 14th best away team in the Premier League this season, losing five of their nine away games, while Everton have shown they can grind out results against the division’s best.
Villains should be on alert.
