Michael Owen predicts Everton v Aston Villa clash
Michael Owen has backed Everton to emerge triumphant from their Saturday night clash versus Aston Villa with a tight 1-0 victory.
Before last week’s 1-0 win to down Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the Blues were winless in their last six games, but the statistic can now be spun on its head with Carlo Ancelotti’s side unbeaten in their last four now.
Snapping out of three successive draws to beat the Gunners has pushed Everton to within one point of seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur and six behind Chelsea in fourth, with a name in hand on both sides.
Writing in his BetVictor predictions column, Owen believes Goodison Park will play host to a tight Premier League encounter on Saturday.
“Everton gained a well-earned win against Arsenal last Friday night, a victory they desperately needed,” he said.
“Villa’s 2-2 draw against West Brom was another reminder of how the Villans can be a tad unpredictable, although I do believe they are more suited playing away from home.
“That said, Everton looked more organised last week than I’ve seen them in quite a few matches. With a manager as high-class as Carlo Ancelotti, it’s only a matter of time before he gets to the bottom of any problems, especially defensive ones.
“On another day with Jack Grealish fit, I think Villa could get something. However, his absence does take a lot out of what Villa do well, so all in all, I think Everton will take this by the slenderest of margins.”
Time to capitalise
Our hopes of Champions League qualification had begun to fade after a series of disappointing draws and defeats but Bernd Leno’s own goal handed us a lifeline that we need to take.
With six games remaining, including another yet-to-be rearranged clash with Saturday’s opponents Villa, there is still an opportunity for us to steal in and upset the odds but we need to keep on winning to stand any chance of being in the mix as the season begins to reach its concluding weeks.
Villa are still shorn of the services of their talisman Grealish and that should act as a big boost to our chances – they just are not the same team without him.
They’ve won only once in their last eight games – a late victory against relegation-threatened Fulham – so they are on the canvas and ready to be exploited by a Blues side that should be resurgent.
We’ll need to beat our home hoodoo on Saturday though, as we have only won once at Goodison Park over 90 minutes in our last ten matches.
In other Everton news, View: Ancelotti to give 29y/o ace full Blues PL debut – 3 things to look for in clash v Villa.
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