Credit: Imago

Samuel Fabre

Thu 15 January 2026 9:21, UK

Everton return to Premier League action on Sunday when they travel to face high-flying Aston Villa.

The Toffees drew with 20th-placed Wolves in controversial circumstances at Hill Dickinson Stadium in their most recent league match in what has been a disappointing start to 2025.

Everton were then knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland on penalties in the third round last weekend.

Up next is a Villa side that has been fantastic this season, and Roy Keane knows how tricky it will be for Everton to secure all three points at Villa Park.

Roy Keane praises Everton but still predicts Aston Villa to win

Everton drew 0-0 with Aston Villa in their first meeting of the campaign on 13 September, although both teams have been impressive ever since that stalemate.

Unai Emery’s side sit six points off the top of the table in third place, while the Toffees sit in 12th place, just four points off Brentford in fifth.

Speaking on The Overlap on 15 January, Keane initially praised Everton under Moyes before predicting them to lose comfortably at Villa Park.

He said: “Everton aren’t that bad, and Moyes could pull a result out.”

Moments later, Keane said: Actually, I was being polite all along – 2-0 Villa, Ollie Watkins double.”

Jamie Carragher added: “I think there’s more than one goal in this. 3-0 Aston Villa.”

With Villa able to rely on Watkins’ consistency, that is one of the main things that sets them apart from teams like Everton in mid-table.

• Read more: Everton look at Yukhym Konoplya transfer as bargain deal already on cards

Everton paying price for this one aspect

From a defensive aspect, the Toffees have only conceded one more goal than Villa in the league this season.

However, it’s in the final third that there are the most problems, especially with Iliman Ndiaye still on AFCON duty.

Beto has severely underperformed for Everton since he joined the Toffees in 2023, and he now seems primed for a move away from L4 in January.

As for Thierno Barry, he has three goals to his name, but after such a slow start to life at Everton, it remains to be seen if he can be consistently counted on.

Everton’s inactivity in the transfer window has been costly, and they need to rectify their problems in front of goal as soon as possible.

Fenerbahce striker Youssef En-Nesyri could join on a loan deal with a potential option to buy worth £17million, while West Ham’s Callum Wilson could also be available.

Hopefully the Toffees’ goalscoring woes won’t cost them against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.