England Premier League
Saturday 22nd January 2022
Kick off at 12:30pm GMT
Venue: Goodison Park
Match Preview:
Everton have been all over the news in the last week and not for the right reasons as the club have fallen to 16th place and are just six points from the relegation zone. This has led to the sacking of Rafa Bentiez after just six months in charge, with the club winning just one game since the end of September in the league. In truth there was no surprise to be had, and the Toffees loss at Norwich was the straw that broke the camels back.
Everton have put Duncan Ferguson in charge once again just like he did back in 2019 and in his short run of games as caretaker manager the Toffees went unbeaten. He is regarded as a legend at the club and his clear passion for all things Everton could be just what the team needs right now.
The club have lost 3 of their last four games and at home from 9 games it’s 4 wins but also four defeats. The teams last home game ended in a 3-2 loss against Brighton a side that Everton had previously never lost to at Goodison Park.
Aston Villa are 4 points to the better of Everton and in general the club have sparked up since Steven Gerrard became manager. They have lost a few games too but normally have been against the top sides although they did lose 2-1 against Brentford. Villa’s last game ended well for the club after coming back from 2-0 down against Manchester United at home they drew 2-2 and that would have felt like a win. United remain the old enemy for Gerrard and he was beaming after the game.
Form isn’t great for Villa with one win in their last five but they have had to play the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City recently. With victory Villa could move up 3 places before Saturday but let us remind ourselves that the club have lost 70% of their games away from home. This is partly down to the fact that they remain the only Premier League side not to have drawn a game on the road so far.
Team News:
Everton: Allan could be assessed after illness but remains touch and go. Jarrad Braithwaite and Fabian Delph will be assessed because of a lack of match fitness and may miss out. Anwar El Ghazi is ineligible to face his parent club. Alex Iwobi is on international duty. Tom Davies is out until at least March with a hamstring injury.
Aston Villa: Ezri Konsa Ngoyo could return after his hip injury, Jaden Philogene-Bidace has a pelvic injury but could be assessed. Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet are on international duty.
Everton vs Aston Villa Head to Head:
In this fixture last season Aston Villa won 2-1.
Earlier in the season in the reverse fixture Aston Villa won 3-0.
Everton haven’t beaten Aston Villa at home since 2015, although when they did they ran out 4-0 winners.
There is a 70% chance to see over 2.5 goals.
Everton vs Aston Villa Prediction:
What a huge game this is for Everton, and it feels like a new beginning, maybe this is the moment that the player will react and give a performance. One is reminded of course when Ferguson was put in charge for the first time in 2019 and the opponent was Chelsea and Everton memorably won that game. But we should also be reminded of the first game of this season when Benitez arrived at the club, it felt at that moment like another new beginning when the club had to suffer and then beat Southampton 3-1. On both of those occasions there was a fantastic atmosphere at the club and there will be come Saturday also.
If Villa can come to Goodison and play good football and win the game can you imagine the atmosphere at Everton, and this can’t be allowed to happen. At the same time Villa have their own qualities and will be dangerous. Of course Steven Gerrard terrorized Everton as a player and he would love to get one over on them again and the visitors will be very motivated to come away with a win.
It’s probably easy to bash Everton at this point in time but they are a great club and an historic one and we don’t see their poor form continuing. That doesn’t mean that they are out of the woods, far from it but the team have to give everything in this game before the short winter league break.
Everton vs Aston Villa Betting Tips:
Asian handicap (0.0 Everton) at 2.03
Anytime goalscorer: Richarlison at 3.00
Both teams to score at 1.80
© Copyright topfootballtipster.com 2019
