Unai Emery has revealed his Aston Villa line-up for this evening's crucial Premier League clash against Everton at Villa Park. The manager has made three alterations to the side that secured an FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Martinez Returns in Goal Among Key Changes
The most significant boost for the Villans is the return of first-choice goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who has recovered from injury to reclaim his place between the posts. He starts behind a back four consisting of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Ian Maatsen.
In midfield, Lamare Bogarde comes in to partner Youri Tielemans in the defensive pivot. The creative trio tasked with supporting striker Ollie Watkins will be John McGinn, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers.
Villa Chase History and Second Place
This fixture carries substantial weight for the home side. Aston Villa are aiming for a remarkable 12th consecutive victory on their own turf this evening. Furthermore, avoiding defeat against Sean Dyche's team would see them leapfrog Manchester City into second place in the Premier League table, a huge incentive for Emery's squad.
However, they face an Everton side in resilient form on the road. The Toffees have won three of their last five away league games, showcasing a newfound defensive solidity by keeping clean sheets in four of those matches.
Historical Edge for the Villans
Despite Everton's recent improvements, history strongly favours Aston Villa in this particular fixture. Everton have lost each of their last four Premier League visits to Villa Park. This represents their longest losing run at the ground since a sequence that spanned from October 1995 to April 2001, offering Villa a significant psychological advantage.
Aston Villa starting XI vs Everton: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Substitutes: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Mings, Hemmings, Guessand, Jimoh-Aloba.
