Chris Sutton predicts Everton result from clash with Aston Villa with debuts on the cards
Chris Sutton has predicted that Everton will register their first point of the Premier League season at Aston Villa this weekend with a draw.
The Toffees travel to Steven Gerrard’s side with both teams coming off defeats in their opening games, after Chelsea won 1-0 at Goodison Park via Jorginho’s penalty.
Villa were surprised by newly-promoted Bournemouth in a very uninspired display on the south coast, going down 2-0, and Sutton expects both to cancel each other out on Saturday (13 August) to draw 1-1.
On the BBC Sport website, as part of his weekly predictions he said: “This is a hard one to start with.
“Everton should have defender Conor Coady and midfielder Amadou Onana making their debuts, but they missed a specialist striker in their defeat by Chelsea and still look light up front, even with Salomon Rondon back from suspension.
“I didn’t see Villa losing to Bournemouth at all, and they really need a positive result here after that performance.
“Villa boss Steven Gerrard was really scathing of his side, especially in an attacking sense, so what is going to change this time?
“If they don’t beat Everton, you can sense there will be a bit of frustration from the Villa fans – and I don’t think they will beat them.”
Response
Everton didn’t play especially badly against the manager’s former side last week but were undone by injuries during the game in defence, with Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina now both missing for some time.
They were also contending with the prior injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin that left them short of a recognised striker up top.
One of those problems was quickly addressed with the signing of Coady, who if he makes his debut with Onana and lines up alongside fellow summer signing James Tarkowski would give the team a very solid outlook.
But while steps have been taken to address the problem up top in the form of an approach for Southampton’s Che Adams, the only concrete development there will be Rondon’s availability.
Frank Lampard will have to hope that the Venezuelan can provide better shape to the formation even if he doesn’t threaten the net, because there is likely to be a reaction from the home side to their disappointing display at the Vitality Stadium on opening weekend.
Gerrard has issues to contend with after benching former captain Tyrone Mings and seeing his side lack leadership as a result.
The Toffees side is unfinished but doesn’t look too far off being quite impressive, so until the final pieces are added up front then points from tough games will be a bonus.