Mark Lawrenson predicts Everton clash v Aston Villa
BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson fancies Everton to get the job done over Aston Villa and continue their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
The Toffees will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the league after an impressive upset victory over Arsenal last time around.
Sitting in eighth place, Everton are within touching distance of the top four and could end the weekend in fifth, should results elsewhere go in their favour.
For that, they would have to win against Aston Villa at Goodison Park.
Lawrenson tips the Toffees to pick up maximum points on Saturday evening, fancying a 2-0 win for the hosts.
In his BBC Sport column, he wrote, “The worry for Dean Smith’s side is that they have started leaking goals.
“At the other end, Jack Grealish’s absence through injury hasn’t helped but Villa’s season has petered out in the past few weeks and I fancy Everton here.
“Last week’s win over Arsenal was massive for the Toffees. They still only have an outside chance of making the top four, but at least they are in the mix.”
Can we do it?
We’ve been dark horses for the top four for a number of weeks and have shot ourselves in the foot when teams above us have dropped points.
It’s important that from here on in we capitalise on each and every result in the table, and it starts by taking maximum points from this must-win game.
We went five league matches without a win between March 8 and April 16, but hopefully, last weekend’s win against Arsenal gives us the momentum we need to finish the season strongly.
The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Yerry Mina all returned from injury last time around, and we’re expecting them to be in contention for this game.
Michael Keane will undergo a late fitness test while Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Abdoulaye Doucoure continue to miss out.
Ancelotti’s big game nous must come in handy against Villa as every match from here until mid-May is almost like a cup final.
In other Everton news, Report: Toffees demand club-record fee for ‘Phenomenal’ player this summer
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