Signing off!
In terms of relegation, eyes now turn to West Ham -v- Watford tomorrow evening which pits 16th versus 17th.
Eyes should also turn to Brad Cox's report which will be with us on VAVEL UK very shortly.
Until the next time, thanks for joining us.
FT Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Late heartbreak for Villa as Walcott gives Everton a point — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 16, 2020
Full Time Analysis: Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
We said they had to win before the match, and they were so close. In truth it was a relatively poor game - two attempts on target, two goals - but that was inconsequential for Dean Smith's side. Three points would have given them a much stronger case for staying up but now the late equaliser means they are three points from safety having played a game more.
Of course Smith and his players will try and take the positives from this game but it's hard. One could tell when the final whistle went that the Villa players were dejected, they face an almighty uphill task now.
Full Time: Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
The whistle goes. It could have been so much better for Villa had Walcott's looping header not travelled past the goalline. They are not down and out yet but their fight is nearing an end. Two more games for them - against Arsenal and West Ham - but they are close to the drop now.
94' Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Nerves are present now for Villa. The ball is cleared for an Everton corner but it travels straight through to Reina who sends one of his customary distributions up-field. There's not long left for Villa.
92' Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Walcott goes close again. He receives the ball to the right of the Villa area and drills a shot across goal. The changes that Ancelotti made have certainly given Everton a lift.
90' Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
There's four minutes to be played for stoppages. They start with Luiz playing an absolute cracker of a pass to Grealish on the left, but his pass infield to Davis runs through to Pickford.
88' Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
With their first attempt on target, the home side score. It started with Gomes on the left who sent a high cross over to the back post. Walcott was there and a looping header was guided across goal, over Reina and into the back of the net where Konsa could only stretch to try and clear but the ball was already in. How desperate for Villa.
BACK LEVEL!!
— Everton (@Everton) July 16, 2020
Now push for the win, lads! 👊
🔵 1-1 🦁 #EVEAVL pic.twitter.com/xirnpDkRkE
88' Goal!!! Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Oh my gosh! It's an equaliser for Everton!
86' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Possession stats for the last 10 minutes have been: 76% - 24% - which tells a story.
And Everton are in... Gomes glides past a Villa defender before squaring to Calvert-Lewin in the area. The Everton attacker takes the effort first time but his placed shot goes wide of the post.
84' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Everton are forcing their way into Villa's half now, the away side are getting ever deeper, but they don't seem to have much of a plan of action when approaching the Villa goal - it all appears off the cuff.
82' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Everton cross from the left but it clears the area and runs to Walcott, whose cross clears the area and runs to Digne, whose cross deflects away for a corner. Sigurdsson’s set piece clears the area and runs out of play.
79' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
And that should have been a second goal for Villa. Grealish produces a fabulous cross from the left, which dips over the entire defence and onto the right foot of El Ghazi at the far post. He just needs to sidefoot it in, but he sidefoots - well, sideshins - across goal and wide!
78' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Speaking of which... Kean works his way into centre-field but takes a shot on from about 30-yards out. Well when I say 'takes a shot' what I mean is swipes widely at the ball. Obviously it sails into the stands behind Reina's goal.
76' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Villa are attacking again. Davis has certainly added some urgency since coming on, he's now backing up into Branthwaite whilst holding up the play. They must watch out down the other end though, despite being poor this evening, Everton are capable of scoring.
74' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Some more Everton changes: Richarlison, who has also been terrible, goes off along with Davies, and Sigurdsson and Kean come on.
73' Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
EZRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! 🙌
[0-1] #EVEAVL #AVFC pic.twitter.com/3zW5m9gy9c — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 16, 2020
73' Goal!!! Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Villa have scored! It came from a free-kick on the right with a good delivery from Hourihane into a dangerous area. Konsa stretches and gets a foot to the travelling ball, directing it beyond the Everton goalkeeper. What a crucial goal for Villa. Now they must hang on.
71' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
El-Mohamady is booked for hauling down substitute Gordon on the far touchline, it's the first booking for the away side. The game is becoming quite scrappy now.
In other news, it looks like Everton are lining up another double change.
68' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
The temperature is getting cooler so that calls for one thing... a drinks break.
It allows us to take stock. It's pretty simple for Villa - do you want to stay in the Premier League? Then you've got to put everything into these last 20-odd minutes. Smith knows it, perhaps the players know it too that's why nerves are starting to show.
66' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Villa have been awarded a free-kick when Branthwaite pulls the shirt of Davis having got a little too close for comfort. The ball is positioned in the inside-left channel and Hourihane is going to try and beat the Everton wall and goalkeeper... but he can't it's blocked by the four-man wall.
64' Aston Villa substitutions
And now two changes for Villa: Trezeguet and Samatta are off, El Ghazi and Davis have come on
63' Everton substitutions
A few changes for Everton: Walcott is on for Iwobi whilst Gordon takes the place of Bernard.
59' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Another good Villa cross from the right. It lands on McGinn’s head. Literally on the top of it.
52' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Good work from Iwobi on the right, and he whips in a tasty cross that nobody gets on the end of. Calvert-Lewin made a run to the near post but the ball dropped at the far, and Richarlison hadn’t really made a run at all.
47' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Grealish goes close! He drags his shot narrowly wide of the near post after a lovely pass to set him up.
Second half has begun
We are back underway at Goodison, no changes at the break. This is a high stakes 45 minutes for Dean Smith and Aston Villa, they have to win to give themselves a chance of staying up.
HT Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Neither team creating many chances at a tense Goodison Park
📺 Watch Everton v Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Main Event — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 16, 2020
Half Time: Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
It's goal-less at the break. Not too many clear-cut chances but Villa will be relatively pleased with how they go in at the break, but they need to score in the second-half. It's tight and tense.
45' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
There will be two minutes added to the end of the first half due to stoppages.
Samatta just slid off the pitch into the advertising boards, he is receiving treatment having tumbled awkwardly on the pavement. He should be fine.
44' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Bernard clips Hourihane in what is a silly foul. Villa now have a free-kick in a dangerous position, about eight yards from the corner of the penalty area. Grealish sends it in but Everton manage to deal with it. Villa do win it back and Trezeguet makes headway towards the back post but Pickford comes out to claim the ball.
42' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Vital block by Konsa as Digne bears down on goal after some nice play by Everton. The away side are playing quite narrowly at the back which is allowing Everton a lot of space at the corners of the area.
Down the other end, Luiz sends a shot blazing over Pickford's goal.
41' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
The tempo is just slowing a touch before a big finale to the first half (one hopes!).
39' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Now it's Everton's turn for a corner - Gomes had a free-kick which was sent behind by Luiz - but it's easily dealt with by Samatta who's back doing the dirty work for the away team.
35' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Grealish takes aim from distance and it's not a bad effort. In fact, it takes a deflection off Branthwaite's outstretched leg and the ball goes out for a corner... which is taken..and blocked at the near post by Iwobi. The next corner is sent a little deeper but is headed out for another corner. Then the next corner comes in, but it's played short and Villa lose possession. Hhhmmmmm
33' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
A lot of space for Everton to push into on the left; Digne sends the ball in but it is blocked by Konsa. However, Iwobi takes up possession just outside the area, weighs up his options before striking the ball himself, but it travels past Reina's goal.
32' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Villa are certainly seeing more of the ball now, but chances are still at a premium - Pickford has not had a save to make yet. I guess that's the story of Villa's season, simply not economical enough.
29' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Villa have a free-kick and Hourihane sends it in but Everton's high-line defends it well with Coleman sliding to sweep the ball away.
Now, the home side are countering down the right flank with Richarlison against only a handful of Villa defenders, but the attack fizzles out as the Brazilian waits for back-up which never came.
26' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Villa are starting to force the issue a bit more, they're getting more players into the area and not afraid of sending crosses in with them. McGinn has been quiet so far on the left side, that said a lot of the play has been on the right.
22' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Hourihane sends a shot sailing wide of Pickford's goal, that is a waste of a chance. Villa will need more composure if they are to win this game.
And what's that I can see.... a few bottles? Yes, it's time for the drinks (tactics) break.
20' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Game is broken at the moment in the middle of the pitch, neither side can quite control the ball for long periods to manufacture meaningful chances. It's all energy at the moment but little incisive play.
18' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Early action for the substitute; Bernard gave away a free-kick mid-way into the Everton half and the subsequent delivery into the area was dealt with by Branthwaite under pressure from Mings.
15' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Another cross into the box, this time for Villa. El-Mohamady, who has come in at right-back for the away side, sends his delivery towards Samatta but the striker is unable to control his header.
In worrying news, Holgate is down. The Everton defender has missed the last few games through injury and it looks like he will not be taking any further part here. Branthwaite is coming on for his home debut.
12' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Apart from a few long clearances, Villa are under the cosh here. One of Bernard's cross-cum-shots hangs in the air and bounces on the top of the crossbar before travelling to safety. That crossbar is seeing plenty of activity already.
10' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
One senses that it's going to be on the counter-attack that Villa will get their chances, but they've got to keep hold of the ball for that to happen.
Meanwhile, Richarlison sends a lovely cross into the area from the left, Mings gets his head on the delivery but flicks it onto Calvert-Lewin who can't do anything with it apart from watch the ball bounce off him over the bar. That could have gone anywhere
07' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Villa are settling into more a defensive shape as Everton take up possession. Iwobi feeds Bernard on the outskirts of the penalty area but the Brazilian's touch is heavy and the ball is cleared by Konsa.
04' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Plenty of end-to-end play as both sides try to feel their ways into the game.
Aston Villa are back on Merseyside having been there to face Liverpool two weeks ago, in which they gave the champions a good game but came away without a point.
01' Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Everton already showing attacking intent; Iwobi crosses from the right and Calvert-Lewin attempts an over-head kick which sails over the crossbar. Ancelotti wanted a reaction after the weekend, and he will hope there is more of this as the half develops.
Kick-off!
This evening's referee is Anthony Taylor, who resides just up the road from here in Altrincham on the outskirts of Manchester, and he will get this game underway.
Everton are in their blue kits, and will play from right to left, whilst Villa are also in their traditional claret and blue.
Five minutes until play
The players will enter the pitch at the same time - which is a novelty given current circumstances and procedures - but Aston Villa will emerge from the car park behind one of the stands as that is where the portakabin is in which their dressing room is housed.
All Set!
Our reporter, Brad Cox, is at Goodison Park for this evening's match and you will be able to read his report after the game. Hopefully, he - and we - will have plenty to talk about.
🏟 @BradJCox_ is at Goodison Park tonight as Everton host Aston Villa pic.twitter.com/DMnF0wgaYT
— VAVEL (@VAVEL) July 16, 2020
"They're all going to be nervous..."
Dean Smith hopes Aston Villa can put pressure on their relegation rivals with a win at Everton tonight
📺 Watch Everton v Aston Villa live on Sky Sports PL or follow here: https://t.co/ICIhk9wpsp pic.twitter.com/Lx89lFUGaV — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 16, 2020
Is this going to be as simple as we think?
In short, Everton have a significantly better team than Villa, which consequently gets them significantly better results.
However, by popular consensus the home side are not playing very well at present, and may be suffering from a few motivational issues. Having said that they are unbeaten in 10 at home (5 won, 5 drawn), which is their best run at Goodison since December 2016.
Villa, meanwhile, probably need to win two of their last three to have any chance of staying up and are thus fighting for their lives. Victory would give them hope; defeat would leave them on the brink. This game promises desperation, if only from one side.
Here are those teams in fabulous technicolour...
🚨 TEAM NEWS! 🚨
— Everton (@Everton) July 16, 2020
Carlo makes 5️⃣ changes for tonight's game against @AVFCOfficial.
UTT! #EVEAVL pic.twitter.com/yMydRUMkMp
Presented by @eToro, this is how Aston Villa line up to face Everton this evening! 👊#EVEAVL #AVFC pic.twitter.com/GFX1IZQzyu
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 16, 2020
📍 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠#EVEAVL pic.twitter.com/nfwKELeoEo — Everton (@Everton) July 16, 2020
Lineups
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Digne; Davies, Gomes; Iwobi, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison
Subs: Stekelenburg, Viriginia, Baines, Sigurdsson, Sidibe, Gordon, Walcott, Branthwaite, Kean.
Aston Villa: Reina; El Mohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet, Samatta, Grealish.
Subs: Nyland, Hayden, Davies, Vassilev, Guilbert, Jota, El-Ghazi, Makamba, Lansbury.
It's Matchday!
Welcome (again!) to our coverage of Everton v Aston Villa in the Premier League.
It is overcast at Goodison Park and kick-off is now less than an hour away.
So, firstly, some team news...
Speak soon!
I will rejoin you with pre-match analysis and team news an hour before kick-off.
Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentary via this page. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and line-ups for Everton v Aston Villa.
How to watch Everton v Aston Villa Live TV and Stream
If you would like to watch the game on TV, you can do so on Sky Sports.
If you want to watch it on the internet, VAVEL UK is you best option.
This is the most played fixture in English top-flight history, with Everton winning 76 of the 203 previous meetings compared to Villa's 74, and you can follow the latest meeting here with us on VAVEL UK.
When asked how he was feeling about the three games to come, Smith replied...
“I’m feeling the same as before the Crystal Palace game because not a lot has changed. We needed to win because the teams around us had won their games. We managed to get that win and it will give everybody a lift but we’re still in the same position."
But the Villa manager was keen to stress that his side will not get complacent having just won their first game in 11...
"We’ve got to make sure we concentrate on our own game and put in a good performance. We certainly won’t get complacent after one win."
What are the managers saying?
Ancelotti expects a reaction from his players following the 3-0 defeat to Wolves...
"We expect a reaction from the last game. Different attitude, different mentality, different character. A big part of the DNA at this club is that everyone wants to see players fighting. When there is no fight, it's not in the DNA of this club."
The Everton manager also fielded a question regarding some criticism that has been aimed at his midfield players...
"In general we have to improve everywhere. I think that, in this period, what we showed is that sometimes in midfield we needed more power, we needed more quality. We have players with quality and power, but we were not always able to show this."
Predicted Lineup (Aston Villa)
Reina; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Hourihane, Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Trezeguet, Samatta, Grealish.
Predicted Lineup (Everton)
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Digne; Sidibé, Davies, Gomes, Gordon; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Team News II
Aston Villa defenders Kortney Hause and Neil Taylor are expected to miss out.
Hause hurt his rib during the pre-match warm-up against Crystal Palace on Sunday, while Taylor was forced off in the same game because of a hamstring issue.
Team News I
Everton defender Yerry Mina has been ruled out with the muscle injury that forced him off in the first half against Wolves at the weekend.
Mason Holgate and Andre Gomes are fit enough to return following shin and ankle problems respectively.
Villa are still to face Arsenal before travelling to West Ham United on the final day, who are not yet safe themselves. But one suspects that if Villa are to stay up, three points at Goodison are a must. They have to show character and fight for what would be three crucial points.
On the other hand, this is a massive game for Aston Villa. By beating Crystal Palace on Sunday, they reignited their fight for survival following a 10 match winless run that started before the shutdown. Dean Smith's side are currently in 19th place on 30 points - a point behind Bournemouth and four behind Watford.
That said, Everton have been in patchy form since the restart. They are coming off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and are without a win in their last three games. They have only scored four goals since returning six games ago. There is an argument that Everton are already on their summer holidays.
Everton's last three games before the season finishes are all about ending with an element of positivity. They realistically cannot qualify for Europe and are well clear of the relegation zone. So the matches against Sheffield United, Bournemouth and, firstly, Aston Villa are there for Carlo Ancelotti's side to show that they will be more of a force to be reckoned with next season.
Kick-off time
Everton v Aston Villa will be played at Goodison Park in Liverpool, UK. The kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 BST.
Welcome!
Welcome to VAVEL UK's Live coverage of the Premier League 2019/20 match between Everton and Aston Villa.
I'm Oliver Miller and I'll be taking you through this match. We will provide you with pre-match analysis, team news, and updates as the match takes place live here on VAVEL.com.