Everton vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Buendia heads home Digne’s corner

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard believes Rafa Benitez’s failed appointment at Everton was unique and warned his men to expect a backlash.

Everton sacked Benitez last weekend after less than seven months in charge and will have Duncan Ferguson in caretaker charge when they host Villa on Saturday.

Gerrard played under Benitez for six years at Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005, and was surprised his former boss wanted to manage Everton in the first place.

As a player, Steven Gerrard won a career-best 16 Premier League fixtures versus Everton, losing just four of his 30 meetings.

Gerrard made 15 Premier League appearances at Goodison Park with Liverpool and earned eight wins, four draws and just three defeats here.

Aston Villa’s draw against Manchester United last weekend ended a run of three defeats in all competitions.

Villa have lost seven of their 10 Premier League away fixtures, already equalling their total number of defeats on the road last season.

You can tell a lot about a club by its heroes, the men that symbolise its identity. Duncan Ferguson ranks highly among Everton’s pantheon of greats. That perhaps points to one of the underlying problems at Goodison Park.

The 50-year-old takes charge of the first game of his second spell as caretaker manager when the Blues face Aston Villa on Saturday. Ferguson fills the void in the dugout left by the sacking of Rafa Benitez. He will rally the crowd and the visiting side and their manager Steven Gerrard – a Liverpool icon – can expect a hostile reception.

Everton have won just once in 13 Premier League fixtures, losing nine of the past 12.

Just five points from their past 12 league matches represents Everton’s lowest tally across such a span of games since earning four points between August and October 1994.

Everton could lose back-to-back home league games against Aston Villa for the first time since March 1998 and Aston Villa can secure their first league double over Everton since 2001.

Villa are unbeaten in all five Premier League meetings between the teams since returning to the top flight in 2019.

Aston Villa’s No. 1 goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has signed a contract extension to remain at the Premier League club until 2027.

The Argentina international joined the side ahead of the 2020/21 season from Arsenal and has been impressive for Steven Gerrard’s team. In his first season he equalled the record for most clean sheets in a campaign with 15 to his name.

He only made his international debut in June but was named as the favoured keeper for the Copa America final where he lifted the trophy. Martinez has gained respect across the footballing world and has received high praise from Lionel Messi.

Everton have gone four Premier League matches without a win and have lost nine of their last 12 games. They have fallen to 16^th in the table and last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to 17^th placed Norwich has drawn them into a relegation battle.

That loss resulted in the sacking of Rafa Benitez and Duncan Ferguson will lead the team whilst the club looks for a new permanent manager. It will be difficult against a confident Aston Villa team, but three points today would be a massive boost for the Toffees.

Aston Villa ended a run of Premier League defeats with a great comeback against Manchester United last time out which saw them draw the match 2-2.

At 2-0 down new signing Philippe Coutinho came off the bench to spark the comeback first assisting Jacob Ramsey to score before netting himself to earn Villa a point. If Steven Gerrard’s men win today, they’ll jump back into the top 10 ahead of the rest of this weekend’s games.

Duncan Ferguson makes five changes to the Everton side from the team that lost to Norwich last time out. Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina all slot into the defence with Andros Townsend and Richarlison also included. Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Anthony Gordon and Salomon Rondon all drop out.

Steven Gerrard gives Philippe Coutinho his full Aston Villa debut by starting him today. He makes two changes to the Villa team that drew with Manchester United. Danny Ings and Morgan Sanson drop to the bench with Coutinho and John McGinn coming into the starting line-up.

Everton XI: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Gomes, Gray, Townsend, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, J. Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho