Craig KlinskiAs Premier League action returns after the international break, Aston Villa will host Everton at Villa Park on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Both teams are eager to regain momentum, but for vastly different reasons. For Villa, it’s about continuing their rise up the table. For Everton, it’s about survival, as they search for their first points of the season.
This match could prove pivotal for both clubs as they enter a crucial phase of the season. With Aston Villa looking to establish themselves as contenders for a European spot and Everton battling to avoid being sucked into another relegation fight, there is plenty at stake in this weekend’s clash.
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Villa on the Rise Under Emery
Aston Villa’s form under manager Unai Emery has been a mix of highs and lows. After a rough start to the season with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, the Villans bounced back with two hard-fought victories. Their performances have demonstrated resilience, but defensive lapses remain a concern. Villa’s 3-2 win over Burnley in their last match highlighted both their attacking prowess and their fragility at the back. They dominated the game for large spells but allowed Burnley back into the contest late on
Despite some inconsistencies, Villa has shown enough attacking intent to suggest they are on the right track. Emery has turned Villa into a team that likes to control the game with possession and overloads in wide areas. With players like Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey, and John McGinn, Villa have a creative core capable of unlocking opposition defenses.
Watkins, in particular, will be key for Villa. The striker is still working his way back to full fitness but is expected to lead the line on Saturday. His combination of pace, work ethic, and finishing ability makes him a constant threat, even when he’s not at 100%. Watkins will be supported by McGinn, who could shift to the right wing if Leon Bailey fails to recover from injury, and Ramsey, who is likely to feature on the left..
At the back, Aston Villa have shown vulnerabilities, but the return of Ezri Konsa offers a boost. The defensive duo of Konsa and Pau Torres is still building chemistry, but they will need to be at their best to keep Everton’s attack at bay. Villa has conceded goals from individual mistakes this season, and Emery will be keen to eliminate those errors to provide a more solid foundation.
Everton’s Struggles Continue
Everton, on the other hand, find themselves in a familiar position — fighting to get out of the relegation zone early in the season. After three games, Sean Dyche’s side has failed to pick up a single point. The Toffees’ most recent match, a 3-2 loss to Bournemouth, was emblematic of their season so far. After going 2-0 up, Everton collapsed defensively, allowing the Cherries to mount a comeback. The result left fans frustrated, and pressure on Dyche continues to mount.
Dyche, who was brought in last season to stabilize the club, now faces the monumental task of lifting his side out of the bottom of the table. Defensive injuries have plagued Everton’s backline, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson both out for this weekend’s clash. Veteran defender Seamus Coleman also remains doubtful after picking up a knock on international duty. This leaves Dyche with limited options at the back, where experienced heads like Michael Keane and James Tarkowski will need to step up.
In attack, Everton has lacked a cutting edge. Despite the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Toffees have struggled to convert chances into goals. Calvert-Lewin’s fitness remains a concern, but he is expected to start. The English striker has a history of providing a physical presence up top, and if Everton can get him service from out wide, he could be the key to unlocking Villa’s defense. Dwight McNeil and Idrissa Gueye will likely be tasked with supporting him from midfield, but their performances need to improve if Everton hopes to escape with any points.
Dyche’s tactical approach has focused on maintaining defensive solidity and playing on the counter-attack. However, with Everton’s defensive issues and the lack of creativity in midfield, this strategy has not yielded results. The pressure is now on Dyche to find a balance between shoring up the defense and allowing his team to be more proactive in attack.
Key Battles
1. Ollie Watkins vs Michael Keane: Watkins’ movement and physicality will test Everton’s center-back pairing, particularly Keane, who has had a shaky start to the season. If Watkins can isolate Keane in one-on-one situations, Villa could have plenty of joy going forward.
2. John McGinn vs Idrissa Gueye: In midfield, McGinn’s creativity and Gueye’s defensive capabilities will be a key battle. If McGinn can escape Gueye’s marking, he will have the freedom to orchestrate Villa’s attacks, while Gueye will look to disrupt Villa’s rhythm.
3. Calvert-Lewin vs Pau Torres: Everton will rely heavily on Calvert-Lewin to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play. Pau Torres will need to manage the physical duel with Calvert-Lewin and ensure that Everton’s striker doesn’t find space in the box.
Tactical Outlook
Aston Villa will likely stick to their 4-4-2 system, emphasizing width and aggressive pressing. Emery’s team likes to build from the back and utilize their fullbacks to push forward, creating overloads in the wide areas. With players like McGinn and Ramsey capable of delivering quality balls into the box, Watkins will have plenty of service to feed off. Defensively, Villa needs to be more compact, especially during transitions, to prevent Everton from counter-attacking.
Everton will aim to keep things tight at the back and hit Villa on the counter-attack. Dyche’s team will likely adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Calvert-Lewin leading the line. The Toffees will look to exploit any gaps left by Villa’s attacking fullbacks, but their ability to do so will depend on how well their midfield can win the ball and transition into attack. With players like Gueye and McNeil in midfield, Everton has the tools to disrupt Villa’s possession-based game plan.
Prediction
Aston Villa comes into this match as the favorites, buoyed by their recent performances and home advantage. However, both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities, and that could make this a more even contest than it seems on paper. Villa’s attacking depth and creativity should give them the edge, but if Everton can stay organized at the back and take their chances on the break, they might snatch something from the game.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Everton
With Everton still searching for their first win, the pressure will be on Dyche to deliver a result. Villa, meanwhile, will be aiming to build momentum and push further up the table. Expect a hard-fought game with moments of quality from both sides, but Villa’s superior form and attacking options should see them take all three points.
What’s Next?
Following this match, Aston Villa will prepare for a midweek clash in the Europa Conference League, where Emery will hope to rotate his squad and keep players fresh for their next Premier League fixture. Everton, on the other hand, will return to Goodison Park for a crucial match against fellow relegation battlers Sheffield United, where Dyche will hope to finally get his side off the mark.
Both clubs face pivotal moments in their seasons, and Saturday’s result could set the tone for what lies ahead. Villa will be looking to continue their upward trajectory, while Everton are desperate to avoid being dragged into another relegation scrap so early in the campaign.
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