Paul Merson predicts Everton result from clash with Aston Villa
Paul Merson has predicted that it will be two defeats from two for Everton after they face Aston Villa at the weekend in the Premier League.
Both sides lost their opening game, with the Toffees narrowly beaten at Goodison by Chelsea while the Villains went down 2-0 at newly-promoted Bournemouth, so both are looking to bounce back immediately.
Frank Lampard takes his side to Villa Park on Saturday (13 August) and Merson thinks he will come back having suffered a 2-0 loss with no points on the board.
In his column for Sportskeeda he writes: “This is a huge game, isn’t it? Aston Villa have just lost to Bournemouth, and Steven Gerrard would’ve gotten into his team after the game. They were very poor against Bournemouth. You fall behind in the first three minutes and all of a sudden, you’re up against a newly-promoted team with plenty of air in their lungs.
“Aston Villa left Tyrone Mings out last week and people have had a lot to say. Nobody would’ve said a word if Villa had won that game. They’ve lost plenty of games with Mings in the team, and I think they’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
“Everton also suffered defeat in their first game, but it’s no big disgrace losing to Chelsea. They have suffered a couple of injuries, however, and Villa’s home advantage gives them an edge this weekend.”
Lampard vs Gerrard
Judging by last season and the transfer window it would probably have been an automatic win for the home side at the weekend, but Villa’s defeat was far more concerning that Everton’s.
Lampard went into the game without a recognised striker, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured and Salomon Rondon suspended, and then lost two starting defenders to injury in Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina, yet only succumbed 1-0 to his former side.
By contrast Gerrard went to the south coast boosted by big-name arrivals and was shocked by a side with their summer signings mostly absent.
He made a rod for his own back by changing the captain soon before the start of the season, and then deciding to bench the man he had taken it off.
Merson is right that it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal if they had won, but they didn’t and now it is.
Therefore the home side are surely under greater pressure in this clash, and based on their opening performance that could be a problem for them.
While Everton addressed the defensive crisis with the quick signing of Conor Coady, and could have new boy Amadou Onana in the team, there is as yet no movement on the striker front aside from Rondon’s return from suspension, although an approach has been made.
That doesn’t give them much of a goal-threat, but at least it should be a focal point for the young wingers to play off, so there is every chance the Toffees can get a result in Birmingham.