Recapture is the watchword in the lunch match at Villa Park that opens the second day of the Premier League. Both hosts Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa and Frank Lampard’s Everton made their debuts with a defeat and are desperate to turn over a new leaf by winning their first league points. A bitter debut for the two former undisputed pillars of the English national team who have been on the Villans’ and Toffees’ benches since last winter. Aston Villa were surprised by the newly-promoted Bournemouth: the goals of Lerma and Moore (2-0) chastened the ambitious club of Birmingham, which after the anonymous tournament of last year is again aiming to reach Europe or at least to try to fight for the first seven places.
On the other hand, the redemption of Coutinho and the purchases of two very good players such as Kamara and Diego Carlos are the guarantee of a club that wants to aim high and is not satisfied with a quiet salvation. Gerrard, then, compared to last season will have all eyes on him: the pressure, if results do not arrive, will be felt. And in England there is already talk of a ‘rupture’ with former captain Mings, who not by chance remained on the bench in the match against the Cherries. Predictable instead was the defeat of Everton, who a week ago surrendered to a Premier League bigwig like Chelsea.
However, Lampard, unlike Gerrard, has some reasons to smile: his team ‘only’ lost 1-0 against an English top league powerhouse – the decisive penalty was scored by Jorginho – despite having to do without several players and being forced to take the field with a blunt attack. Compared to the game against the Blues, Lampard should have centre-back Rondon back and will be able to count on the two new signings Coady and Onana, who have arrived from Wolverhampton and Lille respectively.
Yerry Mina ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
We are only in the second day, but a tension-filled clash is looming at Villa Park, between two teams who are still stuck on zero points after the first day. There should be a timely reaction from Aston Villa, who are likely to avoid defeat in a clash of at least two goals overall.
The likely Aston Villa-Everton line-ups
ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
EVERTON (3-4-3): Pickford; Holgate, Coady, Tarkowski; Patterson, Doucouré, Iwobi, Mykolenko; Gordon, Rondon, McNeil.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
