The most-played match in English league history returns tonight as Aston Villa and Everton face off for the 206th time.
Villa look set for a mid-table finish this season while the Toffees need a win to keep their dwindling European hopes alive.
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Due to fixture changes, these two only met two weeks ago when Villa won 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Anwar El Ghazi scored an 80th-minute winner to secure the points for Dean Smith’s men.
Now they’ll face off again this evening and full coverage will be on talkSPORT 2.
Aston Villa v Everton: How to listen
This match will get under way at 6pm on Thursday, May 13.
Full coverage from Villa Park will be exclusively live on talkSPORT 2, with our pre-match build-up starting at 5pm.
Russ Williams will be your host and commentary will come from Nigel Adderley and Chris Iwelumo.
To tune in, click HERE for the live stream.
AFP
Aston Villa v Everton: Team news
Jack Grealish could return to Aston Villa’s squad for the visit of Everton.
The skipper has missed the last 12 games with a shin problem but has resumed training and could make an appearance off the bench.
Morgan Sanson and Trezeguet are out with knee problems while Ollie Watkins is banned after his red card against Manchester United.
Everton will be without James Rodriguez and Yerry Mina at Villa Park.
Rodriguez has been sidelined after hurting his calf in the warm-up ahead of the 2-1 home loss to Villa on May 1, and fellow Colombian Mina sustained an adductor problem in Sunday’s 1-0 win at West Ham.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful both will be fit for this weekend’s clash with Sheffield United.
Aston Villa v Everton: What has been said?
Jack Grealish is set to make his return tonight in a welcome boost for Aston Villa and England.
Villa boss Dean Smith said: “The latest is he trained with the group yesterday and he trained with the group on Saturday. When he comes in today, I’ll speak to him and see how he feels.
“We’ll sit down with the doctor as well and take it from there. I can’t give a positive yes or no. He looked comfortable and he’s a naturally-fit player anyway.
“Is he ready to start games? No, but if he feels pain-free then he’s ready to be a part of the squad.
“His only concern is getting the injury right (rather than making England’s Euro 2020 squad). He has been loading now for the last two weeks and he is getting to a stage where he can get minutes on the pitch which is the most important thing.”
Aston Villa v Everton: Match stats and facts
- Following their 2-1 win against them at the start of the month, Aston Villa are looking to do the league double over Everton for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign.
- Everton have won three of their last five away league games against Aston Villa (L2), as many as they had in their previous 29 visits to Villa Park (D12 L14). They did lose this exact fixture 2-0 last season, however.
- Aston Villa beat Everton 2-1 on May 1st – victory here will be the second shortest gap between one side beating another in Premier League history (12 days), after Arsenal beat Bolton twice in the space of three days in January 2010.
- Aston Villa have won more Premier League games (20) and scored more Premier League goals (73) against Everton than they have vs any other side in the competition.
- Everton have won six of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (D2 L3), as many as they had in their previous 39 against them in the competition (D16 L17).
- This will be the 206th league meeting between Aston Villa and Everton (all in the top-flight), extending it’s record as the most played match in English league history.
- Aston Villa are winless in their six midweek Premier League matches this season (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), drawing one and losing the last five. Their last such victory came at home against Arsenal in July 2020.
- Everton have won their last five away midweek Premier League games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), last losing at Manchester City on New Year’s Day 2020.
- Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has won just one of his six Premier League games against Aston Villa (D3 L2) – against no side does he have a lower win rate in the competition (17%, min. 5 meetings).
- Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins opened the scoring against Everton in the reverse fixture, while he also netted in both games against Liverpool this season. Only four players have ever scored home and away against both Merseyside clubs in a single Premier League campaign – Les Ferdinand (1995-96), Olivier Giroud (2014-15), Jamie Vardy (2017-18) and Harry Kane (2017-18).
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