Ings To Be Benched? Predicted 4-3-3 Aston Villa Lineup vs Everton

Aston Villa entertain Everton at Villa Park on Saturday hoping to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League.

The Villans, despite spending heftily in the summer transfer window, have enjoyed a slow start to the new season with their only win so far coming against a lowly Newcastle United side. They suffered a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend but there were a few positives for Dean Smith to take.

Smith will hope his Aston Villa side are more clinical in front of goal against Everton, who are unbeaten so far this season having amassed 10 points in four games under new head coach Rafael Benitez.

Team News

Aston Villa will welcome back Argentinean duo Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia after their COVID-19 quarantine following the international break, which saw Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier against Brazil suspended.

Keinan Davis and Carney Chukwuemeka are out injured, and Mahmoud Trezeguet (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Predicted Aston Villa lineup vs Everton (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper

Jed Steer was in goal against Chelsea following Emiliano Martinez’s unavailability. But Saturday’s game against Everton at Villa Park will see Martinez return to the Aston Villa lineup.

Defence

Aston Villa’s defence as a whole has been an utter mess, with none of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Axel Tuanzebe delivering commanding displays. Mings, the leader of the Villa backline, was at fault for Chelsea’s second goal with his tame back pass giving Mateo Kovacic a chance to latch onto it and dink past Steer.

If Villa are to improve defensively, Mings has to start putting in consistent displays. As Smith is likely to revert to a flat back four, Konsa will get the nod ahead of Tuanzebe to partner Mings in central defence. Matty Cash and Matt Targett will hold down their places in the full-back positions in the Aston Villa lineup.

Midfield

Douglas Luiz is expected to start at the base of a midfield three against Everton. John McGinn’s energy, work rate and box-to-box runs make him such a key player for Smith at Villa. Emi Buendia, who will be available for the upcoming Premier League fixture, will look to open up the Toffees backline with his incisive passing and clever movement.

Attack

Anwar El Ghazi was an unused substitute at Stamford Bridge but he could be handed a start against Rafael Benitez’s side in the Aston Villa lineup. Leon Bailey has shown flashes of his promise since joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, and the Jamaican could cause problems to Everton’s backline with his blistering speed and flair.

Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins started in a two-pronged attack against Chelsea but Smith could drop the former after a poor game, meaning Watkins could lead the Aston Villa lineup on Saturday.