Everton make the trip to Villa Park to play Aston Villa for match week two of the 2023/24 Premier League season. Both Aston Villa and Everton had an opening game to forget about and will be looking to change their fortunes this weekend and put their first points of the season on the board.
After the first game of the season, Aston Villa sit rock bottom of the Premier League. This is due to their goal difference of negative four after the nightmare start to the season at St James’ Park. However after Villa’s dream campaign last season, it’s likely that Unai Emery’s side will bounce back.
Villa’s away trip to Newcastle was one to forget for Emery’s side. Sandro Tonali opened the scoring for Newcastle, though Villa did manage to immediately respond through Moussa Diaby. However, after getting level, Newcastle upped the tempo, regaining the lead before half time through Alexander Isak’s first goal of the game. Villa also lost Tyrone Mings to a serious injury before half time. In the second half, Isak secured his brace, Callum Wilson scored and Harvey Barnes sealed the 5 - 1 win in added time.
Having survived relegation last season by the skin of their teeth, Everton were hoping to start the 2023/24 season with a win. However, The Toffees sit 15th after their first game on zero points and a negative one goal difference as one of three teams on the same goal difference. The addition of the likes of Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma do bode well for Everton and their bid to finish higher up the table this season.
Everton’s opening game of the season saw them host Fulham in a game that The Toffees may think they should’ve gotten more out of. Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid grabbed the one goal of the game in the later stages to seal the 1 - 0. However, Everton had the superior 19 shots with nine on target in comparison to Fulham’s nine shots with two on target, though less of the possession.
Aston Villa and Everton have met an impressive 228 times, with the two sides not being split by much. The first meeting between these two came all the way back in 1888, with Villa winning 86 of the games since then to Everton’s 82 wins. There is also a large number of draws in this fixture, with points being shared 60 times.
In the last five games, there has been serious domination by one side. Aston Villa have won four of the five last meetings, with the other clash ending in a 0 - 0 draw. This suggests that Aston Villa are a shoe in for the win this weekend, especially since three of these four wins have come with no goals from Everton.
A player to watch this weekend is Diaby. Villa’s new summer signing has already scored for his new club and could be on the score sheet again this weekend.