At Everton, the bounce and match facts from the BBC

I've always secretly liked David Moyes and think he was hard done by when managing Manchester United. I think he was also treated very badly by the West Ham fans.

As a long suffering football fan, I'm just happy when we win at the weekend and I also appreciate that the game isn't what it used to be or really what it is supposed to be. West Ham fans should know they're not going to win the Premier League at any time in the near future and that playing football the West Ham way is a dream.

He won them a European competition and was hounded out. For many West Ham fans that is going to be the best it ever gets for them. If Unai wins us a European competition, I'll be down to Villa Park renaming a stand for him with my paint brush and ladder, just after I mould a papier-mâché statue of him.

And that's why it's nice to see Moyes back at Everton. It's like he's gone home. The thing is, they often say you should never go back. But I think that's more the case of going back too soon. He's going back to a new owner, a new set of players although some still exist from his time and they'll all love him as well as a new stadium next season. 

This could be what David Moyes needed. It could also be what relegates Everton, but that would be a big surprise and I can't see it happening. 

I can't see it happening for good reason. Moyes will make this side difficult to beat and he'll get them attacking and creating chances. And creating chances is just one aspect of winning matches, you need to score goals and they've not scored many this season. That's why this is going to be tough. But Moyes is the man to turn that around for them.

And with new manager bounce, it makes tonight another interesting match and we're going to have to be a little aware that they're going to start and end this match at 100% and that means it's also going to be tough. But it's also where our opportunity is.

So, big match and the results last night were good for us. Three points, a big ask for us tonight, could see us move joint fifth (if we forget about goal difference). All things considered, not a bad place to be. I'll be back later.

Match facts from the BBC

Head-to-head

  • Everton are winless in their last 11 Premier League games against Aston Villa, having won six of the previous eight meetings.

  • The Toffees took a 2-0 lead in the reverse fixture at Villa Park in September but eventually lost 3-2.

  • Villa are unbeaten in their past five Premier League visits to Goodison Park.

  • They can keep four successive clean sheets in a league match at Everton for the first time in their history.

Everton

  • Everton would be in the bottom three based on their form across the last 10 Premier League games. They have won just once and accumulated eight points.

  • Everton have failed to score in eight of their past 10 Premier League matches. They have netted three times overall from 119 shots and an expected goals total of 8.8.

  • The Toffees have scored a league-low seven goals from open play this season. They have only scored 15 goals in the Premier League in total, with only Southampton netting fewer.

  • They failed to register a shot on target for the second time this season in their most recent Premier League game at Bournemouth, following a goalless draw at Arsenal.

  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin has failed to score in his last 15 Premier League outings, the second-longest run of his career after an 18-game spell between November 2023 and March 2024.

  • David Moyes won the final six home league fixtures of his first spell in charge at Everton in 2013. The match before that was a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa.

Aston Villa

  • Aston Villa are on a run of five successive Premier League away defeats, conceding at least twice each time. They haven't fared worse since losing their final seven games on the road in 2015-16.

  • Just 10 of Aston Villa's 32 points this season have come in away games.

  • Villa can open their top-flight campaign in a calendar year with two victories for the first time since winning their first three fixtures in 2009.

  • Unai Emery's side have conceded a goal from their opponent's first shot on target in 11 Premier League matches this season, more than any other team.

  • They have also conceded a league-high 11 goals after the 75th minute in the current campaign.

  • Villa and Leicester are the only sides yet to keep an away clean sheet in the top flight this season.

  • Emi Martinez is vying to become the first Aston Villa goalkeeper to keep four Premier League clean sheets at the same away ground.

  • Only Cole Palmer has made more successful through balls in the Premier League this season than Youri Tielemans' seven.