Match Centre: Aston Villa v Everton

TEAM NEWS

Marco Silva has confirmed Lucas Digne will be fit to face Aston Villa on Friday night after he overcame the muscle injury he sustained against Watford last weekend, with only new boy Fabian Delph (thigh) definitely set to miss out on the trip to his former club.

Leighton Baines is also in contention for the left-back spot, the 34-year-old having missed Everton’s opening two Premier League fixtures.

Morgan Schneiderlin returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, while deadline-day signing Alex Iwobi is pushing hard to make his Everton debut at Villa Park after being an unused substitute against the Hornets.

Villa also have a near fully fit squad. Concerns over Jonathan Kodjia after he suffered a sprained ankle in their Premier League opener against Spurs remain present, as does James Chester’s hamstring injury, which has prevented him from playing any football so far this term.

 

PLAYER STATISTICS

EVERTON

Most touches
1. Seamus Coleman: 175
2. Michael Keane: 145
3. Yerry Mina: 130

Most shots
1. Richarlison: 7
2. Gylfi Sigurdsson: 5
3. Lucas Digne: 4

Most tackles
1. Bernard/Richarlison: 5
2. Jean-Philippe Gbamin/Yerry Mina: 4
3. Lucas Digne/Michael Keane: 3

ASTON VILLA

Most touches
1. Ahmed El Mohamady: 154
2. Tyrone Mings: 134
3. Neil Taylor: 122

Most shots
1. John McGinn: 8
2. Anwar El Ghazi/Trezeguet: 5
3. Wesley: 4

Most tackles
1. John McGinn: 8
2. Jack Grealish: 6
3. Neil Taylor: 5

STATS, FACTS AND MILESTONES

Aston Villa v Everton is the most played fixture in the history of English football. There have been 216 matches between the clubs, with each side having won 79 games apiece. There have been 58 draws.

If Seamus Coleman plays at Villa Park, it will be his 250th league appearance for Everton. He’ll become the 42nd Toffees player to reach that figure.

If Everton keep a clean sheet on Friday, it will be their 11th in 14 games. It would also be Jordan Pickford’s 29th for the Blues in all competitions – the same as 1970s keeper Dai Davies.

The last time Everton opened a campaign with three consecutive league clean sheets was in 1912/13. This Club record could be equalled at Villa Park.

Everton have only conceded one first-half goal in their past 14 matches, home and away. Marco Silva's men have scored 11 times in those 14 opening halves.

ONE TO WATCH: Wesley

Aston Villa’s new no.9, Wesley signed from Club Brugge for a club record fee reported to be around £22million.

Wesley lifted two league titles in Belgium and won the Pro League’s Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.

A powerful, pacey centre-forward, the 22-year-old links play well and offers an aerial threat.

During his three years at Brugge, Wesley hit 38 goals in 130 appearances.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Michael Oliver
Premier League games refereed in 2018/19: 30
Yellow cards issued: 83
Red cards issued: 7