Everton vs Aston Villa Match Preview

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM BST Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (Goodison Park) Competition: Premier League

This weekend, Everton welcomes Aston Villa to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a crucial Premier League clash. The Toffees will be aiming to continue their strong start to the season, while Aston Villa is desperate to turn their fortunes around after a difficult opening to the campaign.

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Team Form and Recent Performance

Everton Everton has enjoyed a promising start to the 2025/26 Premier League season under manager David Moyes. They currently sit fifth in the table with six points from their opening three league games. Their most recent result was a thrilling 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, showcasing their attacking quality. They have also secured wins against Mansfield and Brighton in other competitions, building a sense of momentum and confidence. With their defense looking solid and their attack finding its rhythm, the Toffees are full of confidence heading into this home fixture.

Aston Villa In stark contrast, Aston Villa’s start to the season has been a significant disappointment. The Villans are languishing in 19th place, having collected only one point from their first three matches. Most concerning is their lack of goals, as they are yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League. Their last fixture was a heavy 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, highlighting their current struggles. With a string of poor performances, manager Unai Emery is under pressure to deliver a result and kickstart their season.

Team News, Injuries & Key Players

Everton Team News: Everton’s injury list includes several key defensive players. The match is expected to come too soon for Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring), Vitaliy Mykolenko (muscle), and Nathan Patterson (groin). Adam Aznou is also lacking fitness. Despite these defensive absences, Everton’s strong start suggests they have the squad depth to cope.

Key Players for Everton:

• Jarrad Branthwaite: While injured, his absence is notable. His leadership at the back will be missed, placing more responsibility on the rest of the defense.
• Beto: The forward has been in good form and will be crucial in exploiting any defensive vulnerabilities in the Aston Villa backline.
• Dwight McNeil: His creativity and delivery from the wing could be a major threat, especially against a potentially fragile Villa defense.

Aston Villa Team News: Aston Villa’s injury list is extensive and poses a significant challenge for their manager. Key players such as Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana (both hamstring injuries), Matty Cash (thigh injury), and Andrés García are all ruled out or major doubts for the match. Ross Barkley is also not considered match fit.

Key Players for Aston Villa:

• Ollie Watkins: As the team’s primary goal threat, a huge amount of pressure rests on his shoulders to end the team’s goalless streak.
• Ezri Konsa: With so many defensive partners injured, the experienced center-back will need to be at his best to organize the backline and contain Everton’s attack.
• John McGinn: The captain will be vital in the midfield battle, needing to win possession and drive the team forward to create chances.

Head-to-Head Record

The historical record between these two clubs is closely contested, but recent history heavily favors Aston Villa. The Villans are unbeaten in their last 12 league encounters with Everton, having won nine of them. The last two league meetings resulted in a 3-2 win for Villa and a 1-0 win for them. This long unbeaten run for Villa will undoubtedly be a psychological factor in the fixture.

Tactical Analysis

This match presents a classic clash of form. Everton, riding a wave of confidence, will likely look to dominate from the outset. They will aim to use their home advantage to press Villa’s defense and capitalize on their recent struggles. The potential for a high-pressing, attacking Everton side could overwhelm a Villa team that is short on confidence and riddled with defensive injuries.

Aston Villa’s primary objective will be to find some defensive solidity. Given their inability to score, they will likely adopt a cautious approach, focusing on not conceding early. Their best chance of success will be through quick counter-attacks, hoping to catch Everton on the break. The midfield battle, particularly how Villa’s depleted midfield copes with Everton’s aggression, will determine the flow of the game.

Correct Score Prediction

Prediction: Everton 2 – 0 Aston Villa

Given the stark contrast in form, momentum, and team news, Everton is strongly favored to win this match. While Aston Villa has a strong recent head-to-head record against the Toffees, their current form is too poor to overcome. Everton’s attacking strength should be enough to break down a vulnerable Villa defense, and their own home defense should be able to contain Villa’s struggling attack. Everton is likely to secure a comfortable and well-deserved victory, adding to Villa’s early-season woes.