Everton have themselves a new (well, old) manager but it was more of the same on Wednesday, as the Toffees were held scoreless for the 9th time in their last 11 Premier League games and beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa at Goodison Park.
WATCH – Everton vs Aston Villa full match replay
Ollie Watkins scored the game’s only goal (his 9th in the PL this season) in the 51st minute, but more importantly Aston Villa kept just their third clean sheet of the season and first since beating last-place Southampton on Dec. 7. Morgan Rogers continued his fine form (3 goals, 2 assists in his last 5 games) with the through ball to Watkins.
The victory sees Villa (35 points) climb up to 7th in the PL table, now level on points with Manchester City in 6th, and Chelsea (37) and Newcastle (38) within reach in the top-four race. Everton (17 points -16th) remain one point above the relegation zone with 18 games left to play.
Moyes-aissance not going to happen overnight
Moyes’ return to Goodison (and eventually Bramley-Moore Dock) ticks most of the boxes and still seems a natural fit all these years later, but it’s going to take a bit of time to turn that wayward ship around. A club doesn’t just recover from years of mismanagement because they hired a(nother) new manager (see: United, Manchester) — even if he turns out to be the “right” one. Everton didn’t get to where they are overnight, and they’re not going to escape to wherever they’re headed in just one (or two, or three) transfer windows either. The starting XI is… mostly fine, but the group lacks anything resembling a creative idea and the rest of the squad is incredibly thin, especially right now with Dwight McNeil out injured. So, what are they supposed to be/do? Defend, of course, and then what? They don’t have the pace to counter; they don’t have a set-piece specialist to maximize corner and free kicks; and they don’t play to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strength, which is quite literally his strength and size.
Player ratings - Everton vs Aston Villa
What’s next?
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa — Saturday, 12:30 pm ET
- Everton vs Tottenham — Sunday, 9 am ET
Everton vs Aston Villa live updates - by Andy Edwards
Everton vs Aston Villa final score: 0-1
Goalscorers: Ollie Watkins (51')
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Aston Villa: Watkins finishes Rogers’ through ball (51')
Everton starting lineup
Pickford - Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko - Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure - Harrison, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin
Aston Villa starting lineup
Martinez - Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne - Onana, Kamara, Tielemans - Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins
How to watch Everton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday
Venue: Goodison Park — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Moyes has new bosses this go-round, and The Friedkin Group will hope the good times come buzzing back to Goodison. Moyes led Everton to our Europe four times from 2002-2013 before leaving for Manchester United. Everton went on a four-match unbeaten run early in December but the last three of those were ties, and the Toffees axed Sean Dyche after losses to Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth left them on a five-match winless run just two points ahead of the bottom three.
Aston Villa beat Leicester City last time out and will be hopeful of a long run of successes after spending much of the fall in the Premier League doldrums — an unfamiliar place for the club under Unai Emery. The Villans soon have the return of UEFA Champions League play, and Emery will want these three points at what will be a charged Goodison.
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Seamus Coleman (calf), Armando Broja (ankle), Dwight McNeil (knee), Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle), James Garner (back), Youssef Chermiti (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ankle)
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: John McGinn (hamstring), Pau Torres (ankle), Diego Carlos (foot), Ross Barkley (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Emiliano Martinez (small injury)
Everton vs Aston Villa prediction
Moyes hasn’t had a lot of time to change things at Everton, but it’s not like he plays a vibrant attacking football far from the defense-first plans of Dyche. Villa are a very good attacking team but will be challenged to get through James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and friends. This won’t be a fairytale start for Moyes, but a solid one. Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
