Everton 0 Aston Villa 0
Unai Emery’s side travelled to Goodison Park knowing that victory would put them level with Liverpool at the top of the table. Everton are never likely to do their neighbours any favours but Sean Dyche’s side needed points to make sure they secured their top-flight status this season.
At home this season, Aston Villa have looked capable of beating anyone, on the road they look like they could be beaten by anybody. The hosts started the better of the two sides as Danjuma had a volley blocked at the back post before Mykolenko drove the rebound over.
Villa almost gifted Dyche’s side the lead as Carlos mishit a pass. As the ball went into the box, Martinez reacted quickly to block as Onana left a painful one on the keeper as he caught him in the ribs with his studs.
The visitors came forward for the first time and Watkins looked to catch Pickford off guard with a snapshot from a tight angle. The Everton keeper reacted well as he saved with his legs to keep the scores level.
Credit: @premierleague
Emery’s side started to pile on the pressure and Alex Moreno thundered a shot from outside the box into the bottom corner of the goal. Fortunately for The Toffees, VAR was to rule it out for offside after a lengthy wait.
Watkins was desperate to get himself on the scoresheet and tried again from a tight angle but it didn’t have enough on it to beat the Everton keeper. Villa recycled it well and as Luiz found Bailey in the box, his shot was well saved by Pickford with a one-handed save.
If Sean Dyche wasn’t bald before he joined Everton, he would be by now. Danjuma slotted Calvert-Lewin in one-on-one with the keeper but the misfiring striker could not beat Martinez as the keeper blocked his shot with his feet.
Everton kept coming forward and in the same attack the ball broke to Garner, who struck a side-footed effort which seemed to be heading into the bottom corner. Martinez got down quickly to make a brilliant save to turn it around the post.
The Toffees had to dig deep in the second half as Aston Villa went in search of the three points. Diaby felt he should have had a penalty when Tarkowski lunged in on him but the defender did win the ball, albeit the follow through was a bit questionable.
Villa managed to work it to McGinn on the edge of the box, who looked to curl one into the bottom corner. Pickford was at full stretch but was well beaten, fortunately for the hosts, so was the post as the effort went wide of the goal.
Credit: @Everton
It all kicked off when Tarkowski followed through once again on a Villa player, this time at the other end of the pitch. The referee saw fit to book him on this occasion which will make the visitors wonder why the previous challenge on Diaby had not led to a penalty.
The visitors threw everything at Sean Dyche’s side in search of a winner and only a superb block by Mykolenko denied Cash, then McGinn beat Pickford with the follow up, only to see Coleman stop it and hack clear.
Cash got forward down the right flank and swung in a cross which Duran flicked towards goal, only to see it flash wide of the far post. Unai Emery will feel his side created more than enough to win this game but it was not to be their day.
Everton will take the point given the season Aston Villa are having but it does not help them distance themselves from the bottom three. However, when they reflect on the game in training, they will see they had their fair share of chances to win the game also.
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