Aston Villa host Everton in the Premier League on Sunday as the Villans aim to continue their surprise challenge for the title.
Aston Villa are refusing to go away in the race for the Premier League title and manager Unai Emery will be looking for another commanding home performance when his team host Everton on Sunday.
David Moyes’ visitors have won two of their last seven, both against struggling Nottingham Forest, and need to get their campaign going if it is not going to become an underwhelming mid-table effort.
The Toffees will be determined to push Villa all the way and in preparation for Sunday’s eagerly anticipated contest, we’ve prepared a Bet Builder.
Aston Villa vs Everton Tips
Over 1.5 Aston Villa goals @ 8/11
Under 4.5 Everton corners @ 19/40
Tim Iroegbunam to be booked @ 6/4
These selections combine to make an 11/2 Bet Builder
Villa can get among the goals
Everton may take some confidence from earning clean sheets in their last two away games at Nottingham Forest and Burnley, but a visit to Villa Park looks like a different kettle of fish.
The Toffees not only secured a 2-0 success at the City Ground, but they have also won at Bournemouth, Manchester United and Wolves this season.
However, the statistics look stacked against them on Sunday and Emery’s boys can be expected to score at least two goals.
That has happened in eight of their last 10 matches, including last week’s 2-1 FA Cup victory at Tottenham, while the visitors’ net has been hit more than once in eight of their last 10 games at Villa Park, with the exceptions being the 1-0 wins over Manchester City and Wolves.
With Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins in decent form, the home side pose a huge threat to the Everton defence.
Leg 1: Over 1.5 Aston Villa goals @ 8/11
Don’t expect a high away corner count
Everton have failed to register an expected-goals (xG) mark of more than one in six of their 10 league away games this season and their road corners have been thin on the ground too.
The Toffees have earned just 33 corners in their 10 league away games, and with Villa likely to go full on in Sunday’s game, there seems little chance of that statistic radically improving.
Jack Grealish is back from suspension to face his former club but his opportunities could be restricted, while Everton’s strength in the final third is also affected by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s continued absence.
Leg 2: Under 4.5 Everton corners @ 19/40
Iroegbunam could see yellow again
Tim Iroegbunam has become a regular feature in the Everton midfield but the 22-year-old’s indiscretions have become frequent.
He has picked up seven yellow cards in his 11 league starts for the Toffees this season, including three in his last six.
The latest came in the 1-1 home draw with bottom-of-the-table Wolves on January 7 and it would not be a surprise if he went into the book again, just as he did when the teams played out a goalless draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in September.
Leg 3: Tim Iroegbunam to be booked @ 6/4
