Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Everton today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola’s side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United‘s latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year – yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it’s Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
GOAL – McNeil opens scoring for visitors inside 15 minutes (0-1)
GOAL – Calvert-Lewin flicks in a header to make it two (0-2)
GOAL – Watkins scores his first goal of the season to halve deficit (1-2)
Aston Villa FC 1 – 2 Everton FC
18:26
A sequence of sideways passes comes to nothing as Villa struggle to penetrate the white wall front of them.
18:24
Rogers epitomising Villa’s frustration with a needless hack at the back of Ndiaye‘s ankle.
18:22
Torres even stepping out from centre-back in an attempt to combat the numbers defending the visitors’ half.
18:20
You can hear the screams of ‘get out’ bellowed from the Evrton bench as Villa play a lot of football in front of the mass of Everton shirts.
18:20
Digne is pushing high with Ramsey drifting into pockets with Rogers, but Everton are limiting them in terms of clear-cut chances.
18:18
Konsa not happy with the cover from his teammates, screaming at them as he concedes a corner to Everton’s left.
18:18
Onana snaps into a tackle, allowing Villa to mount an attack, a ball is finally played in from Tielemans, but Rogers can’t get it under his spell, and it drifts into Pickford.
18:16
The crowd are audibly trying to inspire their side and will them back into the game.
18:16
The attack breaks down and Everton can reset. McNeil wastes a chance to put the ball in from the left of the Everton attack, cleared by the first man.
18:14
The Midlands side are assuming control now and looking for the leveller. First Rogers goes on a mazy run, only to try taking on one too many, then Ramsey earns a free kick in a dangerous position. Tielemans to whip this in from the left.
18:12
Everton trying to kill the game a little and take a breather.
18:08
Goal Oliver George Arthur Watkins
18:08
Assist Lucas Digne
18:08
Calvert-Lewin gets inbetween Konsa and Torres and somehow holds them off to keep possession. Villa regain possession though and are probing.
18:08
Some might say this is a sterotypical Dyche performance, his side have completed just 38 passes against Villa’s 208. But the goals column is the one that counts. Can Everton maintain the frantic pace though?
18:06
Villa must be wondering how this is happening. 86% possession and 2-0 down at home. Everton have ripped up the script.
18:04
This time it is Rogers who strides into the Everton box, chops back on his favoured left foot, but his shot is tame and into the grateful arms of Pickford. That was a let-off for Everton.
18:04
Rogers flicks around the corner on the left flank for Watkins to run onto. He tries to shoot from just inside the box on the right, but it is blocked by Keane.
17:58
Goal Dominic Nathaniel Calvert-Lewin
17:58
Substitution Vitalii Mykolenko James David Garner
17:58
Everton Substitute Garner is being prepared.
17:56
Dyche getting instructions to Calvert-Lewin and McNeil with a break in play. He will be desperate to hold on to this lead.
17:54
Yellow Card Timothy Emeka Iroegbunam
17:54
Not much time on the ball as Villa’s midfielders try to move the ball quickly, but so far, everything is being rebuffed. Ndiaye buys his side a free kick and some breathing space on halfway.
17:52
There won’t be any panic from Emery, but they must regroup now. Everton look like their tails are up.
17:50
The goal came very much against the run of play, with Villa enjoying 83% of the possession so far.
17:48
Goal Dwight James Matthew McNeil
17:48
Lee Carsley is in attendance today, keeping Tyrone Mings company, whilst also keeping a watchful eye on some of England’s regulars.
17:46
Every Everton player currently in their own half as Villa’s Konsa strolls out with the ball.
17:46
Yellow Card Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye
17:46
As I say that, Digne whips a wicked ball across the face of the Everton defence, an outstretched right boot from Watkins can only divert it wide of the post though.
17:46
Tielemans, Ramsey and Digne are forming a good bond down the left, with some nice interplay. Could be a long afternoon for Young.
17:42
Morgan Rogers bursts onto a loose ball and heads towards the edge of the box, but the left-foot shot – despite keeping low – is too close to Pickford and he collects comfortably.
17:42
A header from Watkins into the ground does not have enough on it and Everton get it away on the line.
17:42
First effort of the afternoon, Digne swung in a curling ball from the left after being set-up by Onana. Watkins trapped it, did three keepy-uppies before getting a shot away but it was blocked well by the Everton defence.
17:40
Villa taking their time in the build-up, Everton trying to keep their shape. A good defensive showing is important today
17:38
Tielemans trying to dictate the play and tell his forwards wher he wants them. A flick from Digne sends Ramsey down the left, a sneaky ball inside to Tielemans breaking into the box, but it fizzles out.
17:36
Dyche will want a reaction from the horror show against Bournemouth but Villa are already dominating possession of the ball.
17:36
Everton are visibly up for this with some early pressing.
17:34
Villa knocking it around in their own half before Tielemans earns a free kick in the centre circle.
17:32
Sean Dyche gives a rallying call to his troops, and Villa get us underway for this 17.30 kick-off!
17:28
The teams are coming out to a sun-drenched Villa Park, with the fans in full voice.
17:00
Everton also make just one change since their last outing, with Ashley Young coming in at right-back for the injured Seamus Coleman. Tarkowski takes the captain’s armband.
17:00
Villa make just one change from the side that beat Leicester 2-1, with Jacob Ramsey coming in for Leon Bailey who is out with a hamstring injury. Rogers and Watkins- who is yet to register in the league this season- spearhead the attack again with Duran on the bench.
17:00
SUBS: Joao Virginia, Jake O’Brien, Roman Dixon, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Harrison Armstrong, James Garner, Orel Mangala, Beto, Jesper Lindstrom.
17:00
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford, Vitalii Mykolenko, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Ashley Young, Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam, Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin
17:00
SUBS: Joe Gauci, Diego Carlos, Ian Maatsen, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Kadan Young, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia, Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Jhon Duran.
17:00
ASTON VILLA (4-4-1-1): Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Lamare Bogarde, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins
17:00
For Everton, it has been a very disappointing start to the 24/25 campaign. The Toffees have suffered three straight Premier League defeats, with the latest being a morale-sapping defeat to Bournemouth that saw Sean Dyche’s side somehow lose a game that they led 2-0 until the 87th minute. Fans will hope that the international break has allowed the squad to reset and work on their approach; particularly defensively, having shipped 10 goals in 3 league games so far. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the visitors are dangerous, but must get the service to him right.
17:00
Villa will look to continue their solid league form and build upon the two victories so far against West Ham and Leicester, with their only blemish coming against Arsenal in a game that the Villains more than played their part in. The form of Jhon Duran is a big plus for the Midlands side, with the Colombian netting twice already this season, even though he is yet to start a Premier League game. His form offers Unai Emery a potent threat from the bench. Also enjoying a positive start is midfielder Amadou Onana, with the 23-year-old the current joint top-scorer for the club with 2 goals. A win could see Villa climb into the top 6 today.
17:00
Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Everton.
15:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
