Aston Villa team news vs Everton confirmed as Unai Emery makes Ollie Watkins decision

Unai Emery has named his starting XI to take on Everton
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)


Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has named his starting XI to take on Everton in the Premier League this evening (5:30pm kick-off).

He has made one change from the side which beat Leicester City before the September international break. Jacob Ramsey starts instead of Leon Bailey, who is currently injured, while Emery has decided to start Ollie Watkins, who withdrew from the England squad last week.

Emi Martinez starts in front of a back four made up of Lamare Bogarde, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne. Amadou Onana starts with compatriot Youri Tielemans in the double pivot as John McGinn plays from the right and Ramsey on the left with Morgan Rogers supporting Ollie Watkins up front.

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This is the most played fixture in English league history, with Villa winning 80 games to Everton's 76, while 56 have been drawn. Villa are the favourites to claim all three points today having stayed unbeaten in all 10 Premier League games versus Everton since returning to the top flight in 2019, winning seven and drawing three.

A victory for Villa tonight would be their third of the season after four games, a fete they have managed just once in the past 10 Premier League seasons. Opponents Everton are aiming to avoid losing their opening four league matches for the first time since 1958. They are also in danger of registering five successive Premier League defeats for the first time in 19 years.

Villa starting XI vs Everton: Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Pau, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Gauci, Maatsen, Nedeljkovic, Barkley, Buendia, Duran, Carlos, Young, Philogene.

Everton starting XI vs Villa: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Gana, Ndiaye, McNeil, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Virginia, Dixon, O'Brien, Garner, Mangala, Doucoure, Armstrong, Lindstrom, Beto.

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