Aston Villa vs Everton tips: Angry Villans to bounce back against struggling Blues
Unai Emery
Aston Villa will look to bounce back from their mauling at Newcastle when they play host to Everton at Villa Park on Sunday.
Super Sunday kicks off with Unai Emery's Aston Villa welcoming Sean Dyche's Everton to Villa Park.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Sunday, August 20, Kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event
Predicted score
Aston Villa 2-0 Everton
Premier League betting tips
Aston Villa vs Everton team news
Unai Emery has recruited well this summer but is currently dealing with the biggest injury crisis in the league, headlined by Tyrone Mings (knee), Emi Buendia (knee) and Jacob Ramsey (ankle).
Bertrand Traore (muscle), Leander Dendoncker (muscle), Alex Moreno (thigh), Jhon Duran (fitness), Leon Bailey (back) and Timothy Iroegbunam (surgery) are all unavailable on Sunday.
Dele Alli (groin) has been reintegrated at Everton but suffered a setback, while new signing Jack Harrison (groin) is out for another month.
Seamus Coleman (knee), Dwight McNeil (ankle) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (fitness) may all be unavailable to Sean Dyche while Demarai Gray is expected to leave.
Aston Villa vs Everton betting preview
Aston Villa have endured a torrid start to the Premier League season, being beaten 5-1 by Newcastle and losing Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings to serious knee injuries.
The arrival of Pau Torres means the Villains have cover at the back but doesn't allow for the intended upgrade, while Moussa Diaby will take up the role behind Ollie Watkins.
Lucas Digne and John McGinn will continue on the left-hand side owing to the absence of Moreno and Ramsey, while forgotten man Phillippe Coutinho is an option on the right.
Although they're stretched, Emery's side have the depth to deal with their current injury crisis and more than enough quality to avenge the opening weekend debacle at St James Park.
Everton find themselves in a tough situation having struggled to recruit thus far with FFP. Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Fulham felt like old times, with the Toffees dominating but failing to score.
Arnaut Danjuma has arrived from Villareal and Jack Harrison has arrived on loan from Leeds, but the latter is injured and James Garner was preferred to the former last weekend.
The most pressing issue for Sean Dyche and Everton is either finding the funds to land a goalscorer or finding ways to get more out of this current group.
The Blues found the net just 34 times last season, fewer than one goal per game, and avoided relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
There's little doubt that the home side will dominate the possession, style and tempo of this match, with Dyche's side typically looking to soak up pressure and strike on the break.
Alex Iwobi is an able ball carrier who spearheaded a lot of the good things the Toffees did on the break last season, while the movement of Arnaut Danjuma may give him more of a target to hit.
Despite having 41% of possession, they were a constant threat against Fulham, producing an xG of 2.73 across 90 minutes, one of their highest of the year.
Neil Maupay was leading the line at Goodison Park and although he's not a number nine, he did well to find space in the box and was responsible for 1.34 of their xG value.
The blueprint is in place and the foundations are visible, but putting the ball in the net is what counts. Villa have plenty of players to do that and should bounce back from last week's defeat.
Villa have averaged more than two goals per game since late October at home and that's not something Everton will be able to produce, so we're backing the hosts to win.
