Everton vs Aston Villa Prediction 15 January 2025

🔊 What will David Moyes' return to Goodison Park be like? Everton has brought back the legend to the coaching helm in hopes of avoiding a relegation battle. However, starting a climb up the table immediately will be challenging, as on January 15, one of the contenders for European competitions will visit the "Toffees." Aston Villa has accumulated almost twice as many points by this point in the season, so bookmakers believe that the away status of the match won't faze them. Unai Emery's team is the favorite, but not by a large margin. Close odds suggest a tense match.

📊 Head-to-head

Considering the tournament standings of the teams in recent seasons, Aston Villa's superiority in head-to-head encounters is not surprising. The Birmingham side hasn't lost to the "Toffees" in the Premier League since 2016, winning 8 out of 11 matches. Everton can only boast a victory in the League Cup, achieved at the start of last season (2:1).

🔵 Everton

As soon as Dan Friedkin became the owner of Everton, he made it clear that Sean Dyche's primitive and old-fashioned football was not the way forward for his team. The Englishman was sacked from his position as head coach right before the cup match against Peterborough (2:0). Considering what's happening at Roma under the American billionaire, it's far from certain that the "Toffees" have a bright future ahead, but the first step by the new management was definitely well-received by fans. After 11 and a half years, David Moyes - a local legend who led the club for over 11 years in the early 21st century - returns to Goodison. The Scotsman's first match after his comeback promises to be very challenging, especially considering a crowded infirmary. Perhaps the most unpleasant news is Dwight McNeil's absence.

⚪ Aston Villa

Aston Villa is definitely not planning to change their coach anytime soon. Yes, the team is currently only 8th, but they are within arm's reach of the Champions League zone. Of course, recent defeats to direct competitors Nottingham (1:2) and Newcastle (0:3) are concerning, but the entire battle is still ahead. Moreover, Unai Emery's men have won their last couple of matches. In the Premier League, they defeated Leicester, and in the 3rd round of the FA Cup - West Ham. Both matches ended with a 2:1 score with a winning goal from the "Villans" in the 76th minute. But there is sad news from the visitors' camp. It concerns injuries. Recently, Diego Carlos, John McGinn, and Ross Barkley have joined the club's infirmary. Emiliano Martinez's health condition is also concerning. These losses are extremely painful.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Everton and low total goals are two faithful friends. For 6 matches in a row now, the "Toffees" have stuck to tradition, playing with a total of fewer than 2.5 goals. They are unlikely to suddenly go on the attack against an Aston Villa team that has a class advantage, so we expect this trend to continue.

🚩 Corner Prediction

We believe that the hosts will manage to limit the favorite, which will result in a small number of corners at their goal. For example, a bet on total fewer than 6.5 corners from Aston Villa looks good since it has played out in 5 consecutive head-to-head meetings between these teams in the Premier League. The "Lions" average for away matches this season (4.89) also suggests this bet might succeed.

📝 Match Prediction

Aston Villa is the favorite, and it's quite clear why bookmakers think so. However, the team struggles with away matches, which is particularly important to note given their personnel losses. In terms of points gained away, Unai Emery's men are only 14th in the Premier League, so we believe in the "Toffees." Their defensive football has troubled many giants. Yes, Sean Dyche is no longer at the helm, but David Moyes is unlikely to change their style immediately, especially since he himself is not known for an attacking approach. We believe that the match will end with a 1:1 scoreline, not ruling out a goalless draw. Our main bet from our editorial team is - Everton will not lose. After changes on the coaching bench, teams often reboot and get an emotional boost, which often results in them exceeding expectations.