David Moyes will take charge of his first game since returning to Everton against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.
After parting ways with Sean Dyche last Thursday just hours before their FA Cup third round win over Peterborough, the Toffees turned to a familiar face. Moyes spent over a decade at Goodison Park before taking the Manchester United job in 2013, although he returns as the Premier League’s oldest manager, having joined as the division’s youngest in 2002.
His first task is to revitalize a group of players who had come as far as they could under Dyche. The Toffees are currently 16th in the table and just one point above the drop zone, but have played a game less than their relegation rivals.
Everton face a Villa team who have undoubtedly suffered from the added pressure of Champions League football this season. The Villans have impressed on their return to Europe’s premier club competition, but their domestic form has waned.
Unai Emery’s side have won less than 50% of their league games so far. However, they beat Premier League opponents West Ham last week to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Here is 90 minutes Guide to Wednesday’s Premier League clash.
Everton vs Aston Villa H2H record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
Everton | Aston Villa |
|---|---|
Everton 2-0 Peterborough – 09/01/25 | Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham – 01/10/25 |
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton – 01/04/25 | Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester – 01/04/25 |
Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest – 29/12/24 | Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton – 30/12/24 |
Man City 1-1 Everton – 12/26/24 | Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa – 12/26/24 |
Everton 0-0 Chelsea – 12/22/24 | Aston Villa 2-1 Man City – 12/21/24 |
country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | TNT Sports 2, Discovery+, Discovery+ App |
United States | fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
Canada | fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
We shouldn’t expect drastic personnel changes or a systematic overhaul from Moyes, but several players will return to the eleven after being left out of last Thursday’s FA Cup win over Peterborough.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is among the names set to be added to the returning Moyes’ starting line-up on Wednesday. However, Dwight McNeil will be out again due to a knee injury.
Everton fans may have already seen the last of Armando Broja after he had to be stretchered off the pitch with a devastating knee injury last Thursday. Broja stands next to Tim Iroegbunam on the sidelines.
James Garner could return after a three-month layoff from a back problem.
Predicted Everton vs Aston Villa line-up (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkovsky, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert Lewin.
Emery can call on striker Jhon Duran after he served the last of his three-game ban on Friday evening, but Ollie Watkins is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up.
Leon Bailey is playing a more important role again in John McGinn’s absence, with the Jamaican lining up on the right for a starting spot. McGinn is currently out with a hamstring injury.
Villa will also be without Pau Torres due to a foot injury, while Diego Carlos is a doubt. Tyrone Mings looks set to support Ezri Konsa at Goodison. Ross Barkley is out with a calf problem.
Predicted line-up of Aston Villa vs Everton (4-3-3): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Watkins, Rogers.
Some Everton fans may harbor some resentment against Moyes for the way he left the club over a decade ago, but there is no doubt the returning manager will receive a rapturous welcome at Goodison on Wednesday.
Moyes should build on the foundations laid by Dyche and eventually develop Everton into a dangerous counter-attacking team that is perhaps less predictable without possession. It won’t happen right away, but you can expect the hosts here to be inspired.
Aston Villa are the 14th best away team in the Premier League this season, having lost five of their nine away games, while Everton have shown they can produce good results against the best in the division.
The Villans should be on alert.