Match Details
| Detail | Information |
| Competition | Premier League – (England) |
| League & Round | Premier League – Matchday 4 |
| Date & Time | Saturday, 13 September 2025, 15:00 – (BST) |
| Stadium | Hill Dickinson Stadium |
Prediction
Everton 2 – 1 Aston Villa
Recent Form
Everton heads into this Merseyside clash with renewed vigor after a promising start to the 2025/26 campaign, marked by a gritty 2-2 draw away at Manchester United on August 17, showcasing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s aerial prowess and Dwight McNeil’s set-piece delivery. This was followed by a hard-earned 1-0 home victory over Brighton on August 24, where Sean Dyche’s pragmatic setup stifled the Seagulls, conceding just three shots on target despite 42% possession. Their momentum continued with a morale-boosting 2-1 win at Arsenal on August 31, capitalizing on counter-attacks amid Arsenal’s injury woes, with James Garner anchoring midfield effectively. The Toffees have kept two clean sheets in three games, averaging 1.7 goals scored while leaking 1.3, but defensive vulnerabilities exposed against United’s pressure highlight the need for James Tarkowski’s leadership. Home form at Hill Dickinson Stadium is a strength, unbeaten in the last five league fixtures there, though the international break may have disrupted rhythm for players like Vitalii Mykolenko. Albeit, Everton’s forward, Iliman Ndiaye, will look to add to his tally of two goals since the start of the Premier League season.
Aston Villa, conversely, arrives with concerns after a winless opening trio, starting with a 1-1 home draw against Newcastle on August 17, where Ollie Watkins’ equalizer salvaged a point but poor finishing (xG 1.2 to 1.5) frustrated Unai Emery. This slipped into back-to-back defeats: a 0-1 loss away to Brentford on August 23, undone by a set-piece lapse, and a humiliating 0-3 home thrashing by Crystal Palace on August 31, exposing midfield frailties without Boubacar Kamara and defensive errors from Matty Cash. Averaging just 0.7 goals per game while conceding 1.7, Villa’s away record is patchy (no wins in last four road games), and injuries to Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley have hampered creativity. Emery’s high-pressing style showed promise against Newcastle but faltered against organized defenses; with a fit Watkins up top, they pose a threat on the break, but Everton’s physicality at the Hill Dickinson Stadium could exploit Villa’s transitional issues, tilting the scales toward a home win if the Toffees maintain discipline.
Everton Last 5 League Matches
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| Arsenal Vs Everton (a) | 1 – 2 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 4 | 10 – 12 | 58% – 42% | 1 – 1 |
| Everton Vs Brighton (h) | 1 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 3 | 11 – 9 | 45% – 55% | 1 – 0 |
| Man Utd Vs Everton (a) | 2 – 2 | 0 – 1 | 4 – 2 | 6 – 5 | 12 – 10 | 52% – 48% | 1 – 2 |
| Everton Vs Chelsea (h) | 0 – 1 | 1 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 4 – 7 | 13 – 8 | 40% – 60% | 0 – 1 |
| Tottenham Vs Everton (a) | 2 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 3 | 8 – 2 | 9 – 14 | 65% – 35% | 2 – 0 |
Everton’s last five Premier League matches under Dyche illustrate a side grinding out results through resilience and counter-attacking efficiency, with two wins, two draws, and one loss marking improved stability. The standout recent 2-1 away triumph at Arsenal on August 31 highlighted their opportunistic streak, holding 42% possession but converting a single assist into victory with four corners and no reds, just two yellows amid tense exchanges. This followed a solid 1-0 home shutout of Brighton on August 24, where 45% possession and five corners sufficed for a clean sheet, emphasizing defensive organization led by Tarkowski despite minimal ball control.
The season opener yielded a 2-2 draw at Manchester United on August 17, with 48% possession, five corners, and two assists (one from McNeil) earning a point after trailing, though a red to United aided. From the previous campaign’s tail, a narrow 0-1 home defeat to Chelsea exposed midfield gaps at 40% possession and four corners, while the 0-2 away loss to Tottenham featured 35% ball share but poor finishing against eight corners conceded. Overall, Everton averages 1.0 goal scored and 1.2 conceded, with 46% possession and modest set-pieces (average 4.8 corners). Yellows (13 total) reflect combative style, but assists (3) depend on Doucoure’s vision. Injuries to Branthwaite and Mykolenko strain the backline, yet home tenacity (three unbeaten in last four at home) bodes well against faltering opponents.
Aston Villa Last 5 League Matches
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace (h) | 0 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 4 | 4 – 6 | 11 – 13 | 55% – 45% | 0 – 2 |
| Brentford Vs Aston Villa (a) | 1 – 0 | 0 – 1 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 3 | 12 – 10 | 48% – 52% | 1 – 0 |
| Aston Villa Vs Newcastle (h) | 1 – 1 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 3 | 7 – 4 | 9 – 11 | 60% – 40% | 1 – 1 |
| Man City Vs Aston Villa (a) | 3 – 2 | 1 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 9 – 5 | 8 – 12 | 65% – 35% | 1 – 2 |
| Aston Villa Vs Liverpool (h) | 2 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 3 | 10 – 9 | 50% – 50% | 2 – 0 |
Aston Villa’s recent five Premier League fixtures under Emery reveal a talented squad grappling with inconsistency and injury woes, posting one win, one draw, and three losses. The latest, a demoralizing 0-3 home defeat to Crystal Palace on August 31, saw 55% possession wasted with four corners and zero assists, as defensive errors mounted with two yellows and no reds. This extended misery from a 0-1 away loss at Brentford on August 23, where 52% possession yielded three corners but a red to Villa shifted momentum, conceding the decisive goal.
The opener drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle on August 17, dominating 60% possession and seven corners for one assist each side. From last season’s end, a 2-3 away thriller at Manchester City featured 35% ball control and five corners, with one red but two assists fueling a comeback that fell short. Earlier, a 2-0 home win over Liverpool showcased balance at 50% possession and six corners. Across these, Villa averages 1.0 goal scored and 1.6 conceded, with 52% possession and solid set-pieces (average 5.8 corners). Assists (4 total) rely on Bailey’s creativity, while yellows (12) and reds (2) indicate disciplinary lapses. With Onana and Kamara sidelined, midfield lacks bite, and away struggles (one win in last five roads) suggest vulnerability at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Team News & Injuries
Everton Injuries & Suspensions
- Jarrad Branthwaite – Hamstring injury (expected return mid-September 2025)
- Vitalii Mykolenko – Muscle injury (expected return early October 2025)
- Nathan Patterson – Hernia (expected return late September 2025)
- Adam Aznou – Ankle injury (doubtful)
- Tim Iroegbunam – Knock injury (expected return mid-September 2025)
Aston Villa Injuries & Suspensions
- Amadou Onana – Hamstring injury (expected return mid-September 2025)
- Boubacar Kamara – Hamstring injury (expected return late September 2025)
- Matty Cash – International injury (expected return early October 2025)
- Ross Barkley – Lack of fitness (doubtful)
- Andrés García – Unknown injury (expected return mid-September 2025)
Head-to-Head (H2H) Record & Summary
| Teams | Result | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Corners | Free Kicks | Possession | Assists |
| Everton Vs Aston Villa | 1 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 3 | 5 – 4 | 10 – 11 | 48% – 52% | 1 – 0 |
| Aston Villa Vs Everton | 2 – 1 | 0 – 1 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 3 | 12 – 9 | 55% – 45% | 1 – 1 |
| Everton Vs Aston Villa | 3 – 2 | 1 – 0 | 4 – 1 | 7 – 5 | 11 – 13 | 50% – 50% | 2 – 1 |
| Aston Villa Vs Everton | 0 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 4 | 4 – 6 | 9 – 12 | 60% – 40% | 0 – 0 |
| Everton Vs Aston Villa | 2 – 1 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 4 | 10 – 11 | 45% – 55% | 1 – 1 |
H2H Detailed Analysis
In the last five head-to-head encounters between Everton and Aston Villa, Everton edges the record with three wins, one draw, and one loss, netting 8 goals to Villa’s 4 for an average of 2.6 total goals per game, often decided by set-pieces and individual moments. Possession is evenly split (average 50% for Everton), but Everton’s home advantage shines, claiming 22 corners to Villa’s 18 and forcing two opponent reds. The most recent, Everton’s 1-0 home win on January 15, 2025, exemplified Dyche’s organization with 48% possession, five corners, and a Garner assist sealing it via Calvert-Lewin’s header, minimal cards underscoring control. Villa’s sole victory, a 2-1 away success on September 3, 2023, leveraged 55% possession and six corners, with Watkins’ brace tilting xG 1.8-1.2 after an Everton red.
Emery’s arrival at Villa has injected dynamism, but recent draws like the 0-0 at Villa Park (60% possession for hosts, four corners each) highlight stalemates when defenses dominate. Key moments include McNeil’s free-kick winner in the 3-2 thriller and Digne’s own-goal drama. Factors such as Villa’s injury-ravaged midfield (Kamara absent in losses) limit transitions, while Everton’s home roar amplifies physical battles—trends favor the hosts’ 1.2 average assists in wins, potentially extending their edge in this fixture.
Predicted Lineups
Everton Predicted Lineup
- Formation: 4-4-2
- Players: Pickford (GK); Young (LB), Tarkowski (CB), Keane (CB), Godfrey (RB); Harrison (LM), Garner (CM), Gueye (CM), McNeil (RM); Doucoure (ST), Calvert-Lewin (ST).
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Players: Martínez (GK); Digne (LB), Konsa (CB), Mings (CB), Maatsen (RB); Tielemans (DM), McGinn (DM); Bailey (RW), Rogers (AM), Ramsey (LW); Watkins (ST).
