Aston Villa vs Everton Preview: Team News & Prediction
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The most played fixture in the top-flight of English football gets another run out at Villa Park as the storied Aston Villa take on the storied Everton on Sunday afternoon.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Telemundo
Aston Villa preview: Title challenging Villans
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are progressing well in the UEFA Europa League and are also now in the fourth round of the FA Cup after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur by two goals to one at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London last weekend.
The Villans remain just about involved in the Premier League title race but they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting six points behind league leaders Arsenal with the Gunners getting to play first this weekend.
Everton preview: Toffees have got stuck
David Moyes has enjoyed a reasonably impressive opening 12 months back in charge of Everton but the Toffees’ form has dipped in the last couple of weeks as they remain in the bottom-half of the Premier League table after 21 matches.
The Merseysiders most recently suffered a penalty shootout loss to Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend, meaning that they have now won just one of their last seven matches
Aston Villa team news: Martinez a doubt
Emiliano Martinez will have to be assessed ahead of this one after being replaced at Crystal Palace and missing out against Tottenham, while Boubacar Kamara is a confirmed absentee.
Evann Guessand has returned from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, but the Villans are without new signing Alysson, as well as midfield duo Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Buendia, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins
Unavailable: Barkley (Injured), Onana (Injured), Kamara (Injured), Alysson (Fitness)
Questionable: Martinez (Injured)
Everton team news: Keane suspended
Jack Grealish served a one-match suspension against Sunderland last week and can play against his former club but Michael Keane is missing the second of his three-match ban here.
David Moyes has said he doesn't expect anyone to return from injury with the current absentees consisting of England international Jarrad Branthwaite and veteran full-back Seamus Coleman.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Rohl, Iroegbunam; McNeil, Garner, Grealish; Barry
Unavailable: Branthwaite (Injured), Keane (Suspended), Coleman (Injured), Gueye (International duty), Dewsbury-Hall (Injured), Alcaraz (Injured), Ndiaye (International duty)
Questionable:
Aston Villa vs Everton prediction
There is an expectation that Aston Villa get drawn closer towards the battle for a top four or five finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification, rather than properly propel themselves into the title race this season, and their performance level hasn’t quite been as good as their results have shown. Everton have been able to break poor runs of form completely out of the blue and backing them to do so again may be a major gamble but may well be worthwhile against a Villa side that may soon begin to prioritise things.
Aston Villa vs Everton tip: Double chance – Everton to win or draw
