Everton will look to keep it tight against Aston Villa
Fifth and sixth from last season, Everton and Aston Villa, meet at Goodison Park - both hoping to build momentum for a top four push.
Everton's season started slowly before the annual injury crisis took a grip on the squad and five draws this month has left the team hovering uncomfortably in midtable - so October ends pretty much like it did last year. The pospect of ten senior players missing out - Bilyaletdinov (groin), Pienaar (knee), Saha (calf), Yobo (head), Anichebe, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville, Vaughan (all knee), Osman (foot) - makes predicting who Everton will pick a lottery, never mind the performance. But I would guess that given such difficulties that David Moyes will play a counter-attacking game with Saha on his own up front (if fit) and a youthful midfield. Everton will look for a clean sheet and see what happens.
Aston Villa has few selection concerns with just Davies and Downing out and Warnock doubtful; and is in an altogether happier place. A win today could move Villa into fourth place and in with a real shot at the Champions' League - especially with no Europa League distractions. The ten game mark should signal the direction of the season and Villa has the opportunity to put one of its rivals for the top four a country mile of the pace. Villa hasn't scored more than twice in a game since scoring three at Anfield in August, but has scored in every league game since the disappointing opener - Villa will expect a goal or two.
The games between these two last year were exciting and full of goals - given injuries for Everton and a pragmatic Villa this might be an altogether tighter affair.
Everton vs Aston Villa; Kick Off 3:00pm 31 Oct 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : 0 - 2
Graham Enwright : 1 - 3
Sue Gardener : 2 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 3
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Peter Lee : 0 - 1
Don McMahon : 2 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 1 - 2
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 1 - 1
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Nick Tomkins : TBC
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 3
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 1
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-1 Villa win.
Home: 2; Draw: 5; Away: 10; TBC: 5.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
