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Just as we are endlessly reminded of what number Merseyside derby we’ve reached whenever that fixture rolls around, so it is with matches between Aston Villa and Everton. The most played fixture in English league history rolls on to number 207 on Saturday evening and what makes it interesting – though largely irrelevant – is that the Blues lead 76-75 across the last 133 years.
Can the Villa level things up? Dean Smith’s side haven’t started the season particularly well, especially as two of their matches have been against newly promoted teams and their only win came over eternal crisis club Newcastle.
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Everton have looked far more impressive, which is no mean feat when many of their fans were against the appointment of their new manager. Then again, the same fans posted a ‘we know where you live’ banner outside the wrong house, so their opinions were best ignored all along.
It was vital Rafa Benitez took advantage of a relatively benign set of opening matches and so far his Toffees team have delivered. And while playing in deserted stadiums appeared to help all travelling sides, the Ev took 37 points on the road last season, giving them the fourth best away record in the division.
However, one match they failed to win was their previous visit to Villa Park, their penultimate away game last season, which ended in a goalless draw. Here’s your Bet Builder for Saturday’s late game.
A Bet Builder on these four best bets pays at approximately 25/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Saturday 5.30pm: Aston Villa v Everton
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
Everton to Win
Villa will struggle to keep Everton at bay here though, and that could be what determines the outcome of this match. They have only kept two clean sheets in their last 16 league matches, and while Emi Martinez should return in goal, the Blues are only one goal shy of being the joint-top scoring team in the early weeks of 2021/22.
They will miss the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but with the likes of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend in decent form they should be fine. Everton are the only Premier League team who have scored at least twice in every match this season and who’d have thought that would be the case? I think Everton will Win here.
Both Teams to Score
Benitez’ boys have tended to concede too though, with their only clean sheet so far in this campaign coming against Brighton, every bettor’s nemesis thanks to how many chances they miss. In the last two-and-a-bit seasons both teams have scored in 43 of the league matches played by Aston Villa and Everton, putting them just three behind Tottenham who have experienced this most often.
Villa’s form may not be great, but they’ve only been shut out by Chelsea so far in 2021/22 and they’re the best defensive team in Europe these days. Both teams will score here.
Ollie Watkins to Score Anytime
Ollie Watkins finished last season in fantastic form. The former Brentford and Exeter man scored four goals in his final nine matches, including finding the net against Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.
And despite only making one start so far this season, he has rapidly climbed the infamous ‘most expected goals without scoring’ chart which nerds love to pore over when making goal scorer selections.
Watkins has put four of his eight shots this season on target too, so everything suggests his first goal of the campaign is coming. He put one past Jordan Pickford five starts ago and can do so again on Saturday with Watkins to Score Anytime.
Demarai Gray To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
One player who hasn’t been struggling in front of goal is Everton new boy Demarai Gray. He has got on the score sheet in each of the Toffees’ last three league matches and is their top available goal scorer in Calvert-Lewin’s absence.
However, while he may score again here, he has been running very hot in front of goal. To have scored three times from three shots on target and 0.9 expected goals is not sustainable in the long term.
Add in the League Cup win over Huddersfield and he has tested the opposition goalkeeper with an attempt on target for four successive matches though, and while he may draw a blank at Villa Park he should get opportunities to put a shot on target. Demarai Gray To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target completes our Bet Builder.
Bet Builder for Aston Villa v Everton
Everton to Win
Both Teams to Score
Ollie Watkins to Score Anytime
Demarai Gray To Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
A Bet Builder on these four best bets pays at approximately 25/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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If one leg of your 4+ fold Bet Builder lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Bet Builder Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
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