Aston Villa vs Everton predictions and betting tips – Emery’s side continue title push

Aston Villa might be third-favourites to win the Premier League title between Arsenal and Manchester City, but a six-point deficit to top spot means they are very much in the conversation as things stand.

Everton will aim to derail Villa’s title tilt by winning in the West Midlands this weekend. Will Unai Emery’s side triumph, or can Everton get something?

• Choose an Aston Villa to win – 4/6 with Tote
• Go for over 2.5 goals – 10/11 with Betfred
• Back Morgan Rogers to score or assist – 4/6 with SBK

Aston Villa vs Everton odds

Find the latest Aston Villa vs Everton betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Aston Villa vs Everton predictions

After the first five games of this Premier League season, the idea of Aston Villa being in the title race in mid-January would have seemed fanciful.

Villa failed to win any of those first five matches, while they only managed to score a goal in one of them. A return of three points from a possible 15 left Unai Emery’s side in the relegation zone.

Villa have not quite been perfect since then, but their revival has nonetheless been magnificent. Since the last of those five winless games, a 1-1 draw with Sunderland, Villa have collected more points than any other team in the division.

Emery’s team have duly surged up the standings after winning 12 of their last 15 top-flight matches. They head into the weekend in third place, level on points with Manchester City in second and six shy of Arsenal at the summit.

They remain outsiders in the title race, with bookies offering odds as long as 40/1 on Villa scooping the prize. 

That is largely because their underlying numbers are distinctly mediocre, although it is not unheard of for a team to outperform their expected goals over the course of a full campaign.

Even if Villa ultimately drop out of the title picture, they are well positioned to achieve their principal aim of qualifying for the Champions League.

A 10-point advantage over fifth-placed Liverpool means Villa are on course to be back at Europe’s top table in 2026/27.

In a sense, then, Emery’s charges have nothing to lose. The pressure is on Arsenal and, to a lesser extent, Manchester City. No one expected Villa to be in this position, and Emery will look to use that to his team’s advantage.

Villa have a reasonable run of fixtures on the horizon. Between now and the start of March, they will only face two teams (Newcastle United and Brentford) currently in the top six. 

Not that Villa should fall into the trap of looking too far ahead. It might be a cliche, but it is crucial to take each game as it comes. 

Having dropped two points in a goalless draw with Crystal Palace in their last Premier League encounter, Villa bounced back by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend. 

Now they are looking to boost their unlikely title challenge with another victory.

Aston Villa vs Everton betting tips

Aston Villa and Everton will go head-to-head as the Premier League returns this weekend.

Villa’s run to continue

It is hard to know what to expect of Everton at the moment.

They began December with back-to-back victories, then followed that up with back-to-back defeats. Since then their league results read: draw, win, loss, draw. 

The Toffees proceeded to lose to Sunderland on penalties in the FA Cup last weekend, a bitter blow for a set of supporters who wanted David Moyes to target that competition this season.

Aston Villa’s recent home record is extraordinary. Emery’s men have won 11 games on the bounce in front of their own fans, and we fancy them to make it 12 on Sunday.

Choose an Aston Villa to win at 4/6 with Tote

Expect goals at Villa Park

Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye is still at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Everton will at least have Jack Grealish available for selection after suspension.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could also return to the matchday squad after a spell on the treatment table, so Everton should pack more of a punch in attack than they did in a recent 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Aston Villa’s aforementioned scoreless stalemate against Crystal Palace was an aberration, with each of their previous eight matches in all competitions having featured over 2.5 goals.

Everton are not necessarily the most prolific side in the division, but we anticipate at least three goals in this one.

Go for over 2.5 goals at 10/11 with Betfred

Rogers heavily involved

Aston Villa’s involvement in the title conversation has been a collective effort, but it is hard to imagine them doing quite so well without Morgan Rogers.

The England international actually made a slow start to the season, but he has more than made up for that in recent months.

The way he has been playing of late, it is easy to see why Rogers is a contender to start for England at the World Cup ahead of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.

The former Manchester City man has had a direct hand in 11 goals this term. Do not be surprised if that tally rises by at least one on Sunday.

Back Morgan Rogers to score or assist at 4/6 with SBK

Aston Villa vs Everton predicted lineups

• Aston Villa expected lineup: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
• Everton expected lineup: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko; Iroegbunam, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.

Where to watch Aston Villa vs Everton

• Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
• Date and time: Sunday 18th January, 4.30pm.
• How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

More Premier League predictions

We have plenty more Premier League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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