Aston Villa v Everton predictions: Back Villa to inflict first defeat on Benitez

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Aston Villa to win & both teams to score
1pt 4-1 Hills

Team news

Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia are available after quarantine but will be assessed. Trezeguet, Keinan Davis, Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Carney Chukwuemeka are out.

Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Fabian Delph are out and James Rodriguez is doubtful.

Match preview

Rafa Benitez's appointment as Everton manager was not universally popular but the Spaniard has made an impressive start at Goodison Park, taking ten points from his first four Premier League games in charge.

Everton fans are no strangers to false dawns at the start of a season, however, and last term the Toffees won their first seven matches in all competitions under Carlo Ancelotti before fading to finish tenth in the league.

They have made the most of a kind early set of fixtures but Benitez could suffer his first setback when he takes his new club to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Villa are also starting a new era of sorts as they get used to life after Jack Grealish and it will take time for manager Dean Smith to find the system that gets the best out of new signings such as Danny Ings, Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey.

Smith's side finished one place and four points behind Everton last season but they clearly had plans in place to cope with Grealish's departure to Manchester City and they should be aiming higher in 2021-22.

Villa made a grim start to the campaign, trailing newly-promoted Watford 3-0 after 67 minutes before two late goals reduced their margin of defeat.

Since then, though, their performances have improved and they beat Newcastle 2-0 and had an entertaining 1-1 draw with Brentford at Villa Park before last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.

That scoreline flattered Thomas Tuchel's European champions as they had just four shots on target to Villa's six and were grateful for the class of Romelu Lukaku, who scored with his only two opportunities of the game.

Ollie Watkins, Villa's top scorer last season, was a persistent menace to the Chelsea defence on his first league start of the campaign and Smith's men could welcome back dynamic midfielder Buendia and first-choice goalkeeper Martinez for the clash with Everton.

The pair missed the Stamford Bridge trip as they were in quarantine after international duty with Argentina and their presence certainly strengthens the Villa squad.

Neither Villa or Everton have looked entirely convincing at the back this season and the best bet may be to back a Villa win with both teams scoring.

That copped in May's 2-1 victory for the visitors at Goodison where goals from Watkins and Anwar El Ghazi trumped a Dominic Calvert-Lewin header for Everton.

Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined but Richarlison, Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray are a lively front three for the visitors. However, Everton had to come from behind in 3-1 wins over Southampton and Burnley and conceded twice in a draw at Leeds so Villa can expect chances for Watkins and Ings.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in four of Everton's five league and cup matches this season.

Inside info

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Anwar El Ghazi/Danny Ings
Free-kick wizard Emi Buendia
Aerial set piece threat Tyrone Mings
Card magnet John McGinn

Everton

Penalty taker Richarlison
Free-kick wizard Lucas Digne
Aerial set piece threat Michael Keane
Card magnet Abdoulaye Doucoure

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