Two teams looking to get their Premier League campaign up and running will lock horns on Saturday as Aston Villa welcome Everton to Villa Park.
Villa suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season, with manager Steven Gerrard stating that his team lacked quality, spark and incentive and were “miles off” the pace.
Gerrard’s side have now failed to win their last five league games, a streak they will be hoping to break when they take on Everton.
Frank Lampard’s men gave a decent account of themselves in their opener against Chelsea, but fell to a 1-0 defeat. In the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is set to miss over a month due to injury, Everton lacked a spark up front and failed to test the Blues’ defence.
Lampard and Gerrard faced off on 34 occasions during their playing careers, but this will be the first meeting between the two as managers.
Villa hold the edge in this fixture, having won three of the last four meetings between the two teams.
Aston Villa vs Everton – Team News
Aston Villa
Danny Ings failed to impact the game against Bournemouth and could drop down to the bench, with Ollie Watkins taking his place.
Emiliano Buendia was named on the bench for Villa’s opener, but he could return to the side in place of Leon Bailey on the right flank.
Homecoming. 🙌#AVLEVE pic.twitter.com/84dN2IJB9t
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 13, 2022
Tyrone Mings has been passed fit, but might have to settle for a spot on the bench once again. Douglas Luiz is also pushing for a start.
Everton
Everton will be without star striker Calvert-Lewin for around six weeks. Salomon Rondon is available after serving his suspension, but is unlikely to get the nod, meaning Anthony Gordon could lead the line once again.
New signing Conor Coady is set to make his debut for the club, having arrived on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Yerry Mina damaged ankle ligaments in the game against Chelsea and has been ruled out, as has Ben Godfrey, who underwent surgery on a fractured fibula.
Amadou Onana, who arrived from Lille in a £35 million move, could slot straight into the lineup in place of Dwight McNeil, while Seamus Coleman is expected to replace Nathan Patterson.
Aston Villa vs Everton – predicted lineups
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey; Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho
Everton (3-4-3): Pickford; Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski; Coleman, Doucoure, Onana, Mykolenko; Gordon, Iwobi, Gray
Aston Villa vs Everton – key players
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
After being benched for Villa’s opener, Watkins will have a point to prove. The Englishman was Villa’s top scorer last season despite only netting 11 times and will be hoping to significantly improve on that tally this season.
Everton – Amadou Onana
Former Everton manager has described Onana as “one of the most exciting prospects in Europe” and a player that reminded him of a young Patrick Vieira. Extreme praise for a 20-year-old who is yet to be tested in a top league.
Onana has the ability to play in multiple positions, but will likely be used in a more defensive role at Everton, where he is expected to add much-needed physicality and tenacity to the midfield.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Everton