Everton vs Aston Villa: A historic rivalry in the Premier League
Introduction
When Everton and Aston Villa face each other at Goodison Park on Saturday, they will be adding another chapter to one of the most historic fixtures in English football. The clash between the Blues and the Villans will be the 201st league meeting between the sides - a record in this country.
Both clubs have a rich heritage and tradition, having been founding members of the Football League in 1888 and winning multiple trophies over the years. However, their fortunes have diverged in recent times, with Villa enjoying a revival under Steven Gerrard while Everton languish in the relegation zone under caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson.
everton vs aston villa
Who will come out on top in this battle of two former giants? Here is everything you need to know about this intriguing encounter.
The origins of the rivalry
The story of Everton vs Aston Villa goes back to the very beginnings of professional football in England. The man behind it all was William McGregor, a former director of Aston Villa who is credited with creating the Football League.
In 1888, McGregor invited Everton to join his new venture after visiting Anfield, their then home ground. He was impressed by their large and growing crowds, and saw them as a worthy opponent for his own club. Everton accepted his invitation and became one of the 12 founding clubs of the new league system.
Everton and Aston Villa soon established themselves as dominant forces in English football, winning nine and seven league titles respectively before World War I. They also met in two FA Cup finals, with Villa winning both in 1897 and 1905.
The recent meetings
Everton vs Aston Villa has lost some of its glamour and prestige in recent years, as both clubs have struggled to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. However, there is still plenty of passion and pride at stake whenever they meet.
Villa have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning three of their last four games against Everton. Their most impressive victory came last season, when they beat them 2-0 at Goodison Park thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia.
Everton are currently in turmoil, having won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions. They sacked Rafael Benitez earlier this week and appointed club legend Duncan Ferguson as interim manager. Ferguson has promised to make changes and inject some energy and fight into the team. - Villa are flying high under Steven Gerrard, who has won seven of his 10 games in charge since replacing Dean Smith. Gerrard has brought in Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne from Barcelona and Everton respectively, adding more quality and experience to his squad. - The game promises to be an exciting and tense affair, with both teams desperate for points and pride. The key players and stats
Both Everton and Aston Villa have some talented and influential players in their ranks, who could make the difference on Saturday. Here are some of the key players and stats to watch out for:
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Player
Team
Goals
Assists
Shots per game
Key passes per game
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
8
3
2.6
1.4
Emiliano Buendia
Aston Villa
7
3
1.9
1.8
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Everton
6
0
3.1
0.6
Demarai Gray
Everton
5
2
1.71.3
Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia are leading the attack for Villa, with eight and seven goals respectively. They have also contributed six assists between them, and are the most creative players in the team, averaging 3.2 key passes per game combined. They will pose a serious threat to Everton's shaky defence, which has conceded 35 goals in 24 games, the joint-third worst record in the league.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Everton's top scorer with six goals, but he has been sidelined with a thigh injury since December. He is expected to return to action soon, and Everton will hope he can rediscover his form and boost their scoring record, which is the fourth-lowest in the league with 23 goals. Demarai Gray has been one of Everton's best signings this season, scoring five goals and providing two assists from the wing. He has also been their most prolific shooter, averaging 1.7 shots per game. He will look to exploit Villa's defence, which has also conceded 35 goals in 24 games.
The prediction and betting angle
Villa are favourites to win this game based on their form and confidence. They have won three of their last four games against Everton, and have scored nine goals in those games. They also have the advantage of having Gerrard as their manager, who knows how to motivate his players and get the best out of them.
Everton could spring a surprise with the backing of their passionate fans at Goodison Park. They have won two of their last three games in all competitions, and have shown some signs of improvement under Ferguson. They also have some quality players who can turn the game in their favour, such as Calvert-Lewin, Gray, Richarlison and Andros Townsend.
A high-scoring game is likely given the defensive frailties of both sides. Both teams have conceded 35 goals in 24 games, and have kept only five clean sheets each. Both teams also have some potent attackers who can find the net with ease.
The prediction for this game is Aston Villa to win 3-2, with Watkins, Buendia and Coutinho scoring for Villa, and Calvert-Lewin and Gray scoring for Everton.
The betting angle for this game is to back over 2.5 goals at -125 odds on PointsBet. This bet has landed in four of the last five games between Everton and Villa, and in six of Villa's last seven games in all competitions.
Conclusion
Everton vs Aston Villa is a historic fixture that dates back to the origins of professional football in England. Both clubs have a rich heritage and tradition, but have fallen behind the top teams in recent years.
The upcoming match on Saturday will be a crucial one for both sides, as they look to climb up the table and achieve their goals. Villa are aiming for a European spot, while Everton are fighting for survival. The game promises to be a thrilling and high-scoring affair, with both teams having some star players and some defensive weaknesses.
If you want to watch this game live, you can tune in to Sky Sports Premier League at 12:30 pm GMT on Saturday, February 25, 2023. You can also follow the live updates and highlights on the Sky Sports website and app.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Everton vs Aston Villa:
When was the first league meeting between Everton and Aston Villa?
The first league meeting between Everton and Aston Villa was on September 22, 1888. The game ended in a 2-2 draw at Anfield, which was Everton's home ground at the time.
How many trophies have Everton and Aston Villa won?
Everton have won nine league titles, five FA Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and nine Charity Shields. Aston Villa have won seven league titles, seven FA Cups, five League Cups, one European Cup and one European Super Cup.
Who is the all-time top scorer in Everton vs Aston Villa games?
The all-time top scorer in Everton vs Aston Villa games is Dixie Dean, who scored 19 goals for Everton against Villa between 1925 and 1937. He is also Everton's all-time top scorer with 383 goals in 433 games.
Who is the current manager of Everton?
The current manager of Everton is Duncan Ferguson, who is serving as an interim manager after the sacking of Rafael Benitez. Ferguson is a former Everton player who scored 72 goals in 273 games for the club.
Who is the current manager of Aston Villa?
The current manager of Aston Villa is Steven Gerrard, who took over from Dean Smith in November 2022. Gerrard is a former Liverpool player who won nine trophies with the club, including the Champions League in 2005.
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