Thierno Barry’s second-half goal gave David Moyes a statement win and Everton a spot in the top half of the Premier League table after a 1-0 win over disappointing Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.
Villa had an opportunity to move within four points of Arsenal but instead stay seven behind the Premier League leaders, in third place due to tiebreakers falling Manchester City’s way.
WATCH — Aston Villa v Everton full match replay
Barry’s fourth goal of the season came off his pressure and then endeavor, as he dinked home a rebound after Dwight McNeil’s shot wound up near the back post.
It’s Everton’s best win of the season and delivers the Toffees a spot in the top half of the table. David Moyes sees his men in 10th with 32 points, and they’ll finish the matchweek three points off fifth and four points off fourth.
Everton project feels back on track
No one’s doubting David Moyes’ ability to put together a teeth-gritting, ankle-grazing team that can stay in any game. But the Toffees hopes of a long-awaited return to Europe feels reinvigorated Sunday as Moyes’ men again executed a game plan away to an opponent whose project is well ahead of theirs. They blanked Ruben Amorim’s Man United at Old Trafford on November 24. They shut out Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth on Dec. 1. It felt like a jumping-off point, but Everton’s only wins in the interim came over Nottingham Forest. A third blanking of a good team away from home has merit especially given the Toffees have been operating the past month without Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye. They’ll be back from AFCON soon, and Jarrad Branthwaite has been very slowly but surely coming back into the fold. If you had doubts, they should be eased a bit. If you had hope, your tank should feel a lot closer to full.
What’s next?
Villa go to Fenerbahce in the Europa League at 12:45pm ET Thursday, then head to Newcastle United on Sunday for a Premier League match.
Everton do not play against until Monday, January 26.
Aston Villa vs Everton live updates, final score: 0-1
Thierno Barry 59'
Villa double sub
Lucas Digne and teenager George Hemmings are into the game for Matty Cash and Lamare Bogarde.
Jordan Pickford comes up huge
Morgan Rogers takes on a loose ball outside the 18 and somehow curls a ball over and through traffic for the upper 90.
The only thing more remarkable than his aim is Jordan Pickford’s vision and timing to slap the ball away for a corner kick.
Thierno Barry goal — Aston Villa 0-1 Everton
A downright Moyesian lead.
Barry hassles Ezri Konsa’s collection of a long ball, and Konsa barely gets the ball to Pau Torres.
Torres makes a mess of it, Dwight McNeil gets it and fires toward Emiliano Martinez.
The keeper who cannot hold the ball, and Barry is there first. He dinks the ball over the on-lunging Martinez for 1-0 in the 59th minute.
Halftime — Aston Villa 0-0 Everton
Villa have been the more likely side to score, but Everton had two solid moments in the first half-hour.
At this rate you’d expect Villa to find a goal before the Toffees, especially as the visitors have a very limited bench.
Guessand off the bar!
Youri Tielemans sends Evann Guessand a cross toward the back post.
Guessand does so well to move with the ball and cushion a header over a helpless-looking Pickford, but it’s clips the bottom-half of the bar and bounds away from goal.
John McGinn injury
The Scottish mainstay goes down and immediately signals for treatment.
Villa quickly ready Evann Guessand, just back from AFCON, for an 18th-minute introduction.
An early chance each
A first-minute Jordan Pickford long ball is flicked to Merlin Rohl by Thierno Barry, and Rohl’s strong effort bangs into the post.
Emiliano Buendia then sets up Morgan Rogers at the other end but the forward gets his balance wrong and sails it over the bar.
0-0 now into the 12th minute.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins
Everton lineup
Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Garner, Rohl, McNeil, Armstrong, Grealish, Barry
Aston Villa vs Everton preview
Aston Villa need to get back in the win column as their Premier League title hopes have stalled ahead of a Sunday visit from Everton to Villa Park.
Villa remain an impressive third on the Premier League table but such are the fine margins in a title race that a 1-1-1 run has sunk them six points off leaders Arsenal.
Everton are seeking just a second win since the middle of December, a 1W-2D-3L run sending the Toffees down to 12th place with 29 points.
That’s not far off the European places but there’s danger in missing the chance to dance if David Moyes cannot rally the Toffees into better form.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Amadou Onana (thigh), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Ross Barkley (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Evann Guessand (fitness - return from AFCON), Emiliano Martinez (calf)
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Michael Keane (suspension), Carlos Alcaraz (unspecified), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring), Idrissa Gana Gueye (international duty - AFCON), Iliman Ndiaye (international duty - AFCON) | QUESTIONABLE: Seamus Coleman (unspecified), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring), Timothy Iroegbunham (groin),
Aston Villa vs Everton prediction
Villa are heavy favorites and have had a rare full week of preparation for the Toffees, who are sincerely short-handed for this scrap. The Villans are missing some key pieces, too, but they should be able to navigate this and prepare for a Thursday trip to Fenerbahce. Aston Villa 2-1 Everton.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Villa Park — Villa
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA Network
