Everton v Aston Villa on a Saturday at 3pm. It doesn’t get more classic than that.
Yet the 215th edition of the most-played fixture in the English top flight gets a modern twist, as the Toffees take to the field at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the third time in a competitive match.
Evertonians go into the game more buoyant and optimistic than they have been in a long time, eagerly ticking off the days of the international break.
It couldn’t have been more different 12 months ago. Evertonians were on their
knees – both literally and metaphorically – after a crushing 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, having led 2-0 as late as the 87th minute. Another 2-0 lead was thrown away in a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa in their next match, sending their season into a tailspin that could have ended in disaster had David Moyes not ridden to the rescue.
Fast forward to now, and another 3-2 result – this time in Everton’s favour at Wolves – has sent excitement levels soaring. There remains a realism about what can be achieved this season, but it’s going to be done with a style and verve not seen in years.
Not since the start of the 2020–21 season has Everton featured so many exciting attacking players – and back then, matches were played in empty stadiums under the shadow of Covid.
Crippling financial pressures saw that team slowly stripped of any creativity over the following years, which very nearly cost the club its Premier League status.
Now, the rebuild looks very much on.
Along with a team playing with style, Evertonians also crave a hero – and in Jack Grealish, they look to have found one.
Not since Kevin Campbell has a loan player made such an impact in such a short space of time – and like Campbell, he now has a Premier League Player of the Month award to show for it.
Now, this is not my first Everton rodeo, so I know Toffees fans rarely get too much good news without something awful following it to restore the balance. But while Everton are certainly going to lose their fair share of games this year, at least it looks like it’s going to be fun along the way.
The opposition
There are several similarities between Everton and Aston Villa – two founding members of the Football League, with similarly sized fanbases and trophy hauls. The two clubs have also followed similar paths in recent years, though Villa’s highs and lows have been more extreme.
The Midlands club was relegated after a horrendous 2015–16 season, which followed several years of slow decline. The Toffees endured similarly lean years but managed to avoid the drop.
Two failed attempts at promotion followed for Villa, and financial oblivion loomed had they not won the play-off final in their third season.
There was a last-day escape in the Covid-affected 2019–20 campaign, followed by an ill-advised dalliance with Steven Gerrard. But their fortunes changed dramatically when Unai Emery arrived in late 2022.
With Emery came hefty investment in the squad – but unlike Everton, who squandered resources under Farhad Moshiri, Villa bought wisely and built a side that qualified for the Champions League.
However, like the Toffees, our old friend PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) has come to haunt them too. They haven’t faced a points deduction, but a scramble to reduce losses and address their spiralling wage bill has restricted summer spending. A UEFA charge also hung over them, which would have prevented new signings being registered for Europe had they not achieved a positive transfer balance.
It’s perhaps no surprise that all this disruption has led to a stuttering start. They have just one point from three games and are yet to score. That said, they do have a strong recent record against Everton – unbeaten since promotion in 2019 and winning their last three away fixtures without conceding.
The main narrative, though, is likely to be Grealish coming up against his boyhood club – four years after departing for £100 million to the Etihad. He has been booed by Villa fans before and will likely receive a rough reception, though many supporters still appreciate what he did for the club – particularly in staying with them during their time in the Championship.
Previous meeting
Everton 0–1 Aston Villa – 15 January 2025
David Moyes’ second spell in charge got off to a disappointing start as Ollie Watkins secured the points for the visitors. Things would rapidly improve, though, with Everton losing just two of their next 11 league games.
Team news
Iliman Ndiaye is doubtful after picking up a knock on international duty with Senegal, which could mean a first start for Tyler Dibling. Vitalii Mykolenko faces a late fitness test after withdrawing from international duty. Jarrad Branthwaite is still recovering from a knee problem and won’t be back for a few weeks. Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson are back in training but still some way from a first-team return.
Final word
There is a real sense of anticipation ahead of Saturday’s match. Everton fans are excited to watch their team again in the palatial surroundings of their new stadium. Another win here, and those excitement levels will go through the roof.
