Everton v Aston Villa predictions: Open contest looks likely at Goodison

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

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm, Saturday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
1pt 10-11 general

Team news

Everton
Michael Keane is available after a thigh injury but Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are still out.

Aston Villa
Jack Grealish is doubtful with a calf problem while Morgan Sanson and Trezequet are out. Matty Cash returns from a ban.

Match preview

Few people seem to be talking about Everton's chances of playing European football next season, but the Toffees are right in the thick of the battle for a Europa League spot.

And that could mean Saturday's clash against Aston Villa turns into an open affair.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, which looks a big gap to make up in the closing stages.

But Europa places will go down to seven this year and the eighth-placed Merseysiders have a game in hand on their rivals.

That will be at home to already-relegated Sheffield United and a final-day trip to Manchester City may not be as daunting as normal if Pep Guardiola's side are preparing for their first Champions League final.

The issues have been at Goodison Park, where they have won once in nine games and kept a solitary clean sheet, but they should be boosted by their win at Arsenal last time out, although there were also encouraging signs in their previous game, a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

They will look ruefully at home defeats to Newcastle, Fulham and Burnley but that should ensure they are even more positive in this contest.

Villa's 11th spot is a fine achievement after Dean Smith's side stayed up on the final day of last season and their late equaliser in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Brom shows they are not slacking off.

They have taken one point from their last three on the road, but they have a decent record of finding the net on their travels, so there could be goals in this contest.

Key stat

Aston Villa have scored in 13 of their 16 league away games.

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