Prediction and odds for the game: Aston Villa (17/10) vs Everton (8/5)

We are backing the away win

When: Thursday, 13th May 2021, Kick-off 18:00

Where: Villa Park

On Thursday evening, Aston Villa host Everton at Villa Park in the Premier League, as the visitors look to strengthen their European hopes for next season.

Aston Villa

The Villans season seems to be rather petering out after a solid campaign. However, Dean Smith’s team will still want to finish in the Premier League’s top half, which must be considered a decent season for the Villans.

A 3-1 home defeat by Manchester United last time out in the Premier League, means that the Villans have won just one of their last five games in the English top-flight, suffering three defeats in the process. However, the one win was achieved against Everton in a 2-1 win at Goodison Park. Poor defensive displays have been at the heart of their poor recent away form, as Villa have now conceded at least two goals in four of their last five league outings.

Villa have been poor on home soil of late in the Premier League, having won just one of their last seven league games at Villa Park.

The Villans will be without the suspended Ollie Watkins, but attacking midfielder Jack Grealish has a chance to return to the squad after injury.

Everton

The Toffees are eighth-place in the Premier League table, two points behind sixth-place Liverpool and just a point adrift of Tottenham in seventh, who have played an extra game than the Merseysider’s this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s team will still feel that they have a big chance of earning European football for next season.

Their away form has kept them in the hunt for European qualification, as only champions-elect Manchester City have won more Premier League games on their travels this season. That good away record continued last time out, as Everton recorded a 1-0 win at West Ham.

The Toffees recent away matches in the English top-flight have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last 11 league matches on their travels. The fact that they have kept clean sheets in five of their last six away games in the top-flight has been a big factor in those low-scoring clashes.

Carlo Ancelotti may name an unchanged starting line-up from the win at West Ham. However, Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez has not been completely ruled out, as the former Real Madrid star has been struggling with a calf problem.

Conclusion

This clash sees a poor home team go face to face with an outstanding away team. We are backing the visitors to record another victory. However, we do believe that this will be a close and tight game, in a similar nature to most of Everton’s recent away games of late in the Premier League.

Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 8/5 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at evens. (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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Will Everton boost their chances of European football next season by recording a win at Villa Park?