Fresh from the international break, Everton were hoping to continue the momentum built after three straight victories. This new-look side are still haunted by past records, including a winless streak in the Premier League against this weekend’s opposition stretching back to 2016. Taking both teams’ starts to the season into account, David Moyes surely felt this one was there for the taking. With Vitaliy Mykolenko unfit, James Garner deputised at left-back, while former Villa man Tim Iroegbunam returned to the starting eleven.
Within minutes, Beto missed a glorious opportunity to find the net as Everton flew out of the traps. After Illiman Ndiaye escaped down the right, the number nine wasn’t set and couldn’t finish. The home side threatened again when Villa lost the ball in their own area, but Beto’s header from Jack Grealish’s cross was denied by Emiliano Martínez at the back post. Despite the striker being offside, the Blues kept applying pressure. Grealish himself was next to test the keeper with a volley from the edge of the box, but crucially, Everton failed to convert and the scoreline stayed level.
As Moyes’s men failed to capitalise on their dominance, the visitors grew in confidence, though without creating any real chances. For all the individual talent in Unai Emery’s side, Everton’s back line looked comfortable. In fact, the Toffees ended the half strongly and nearly went in ahead. James Garner’s corner found Michael Keane, but the defender couldn’t keep his effort down. The whistle blew with Everton frustrated not to be in front.
Whatever Emery told his players at half-time seemed to galvanise them. Villa started with renewed energy, and after Beto narrowly missed a low cross from Garner, the away side pushed on, as Emiliano Buendia watched his heavily-deflected strike stray the wrong side of the post. It looked like a turning point, but instead Everton regained control. Grealish saw more of the ball, giving Matty Cash a torrid afternoon. New signing Merlin Röhl replaced the booked Iroegbunam and immediately looked assured in midfield.
As the contest wore on, Grealish pushed to add to his assist tally. One of his teasing deliveries found Keane, whose header was brilliantly saved by Martínez. Thierno Barry entered for the final 15 minutes and was soon slipped through by Röhl, but Tyrone Mings recovered well to force him away from goal. In stoppage time, Grealish swung in another dangerous ball, but Keane couldn’t guide his header on target. The centre-back could easily have had a hat-trick to crown his strong defensive display, but it wasn’t to be. Villa looked relieved to hear the final whistle. Despite the frustration, Everton head into the Merseyside derby in solid form.
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