Everton vs Aston Villa: Toffees looking to end run of consecutive defeats and climb away from danger against high-flying Villans – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Everton welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park this weekend, looking to end their run of defeats and get away from the drop zone.

Sean Dyche's men have lost three consecutive Premier League games and are just one point clear of the drop zone.

Everton are suddenly on an awful run of formCredit: Getty

The Toffees would be sitting in 12th place if it wasn't for their ten-point deduction, but they face a battle to stay up in the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, Villa are flying at the top end of the table.

Unai Emery's men are second, just three points behind Liverpool and are well in the title race.

Everton vs Aston Villa: Struggling Calvert-Lewin

Everton will have Dominic Calvert-Lewin available for this game despite the player being sent off against Crystal Palace last week.

The ridiculous red card was overturned on review, meaning the striker can lead the line against Villa.

However, Dyche's men need more from the England international, who has only scored three goals in the league this year.

He's had plenty of injury issues over the past few seasons, but has been fit for the majority of this campaign.

The ex-Sheffield United man hasn't since October in a 1-0 win over West Ham.

His goalless run in all competitions stretches to 12 games, and while other players have been getting goals, Everton need their main man to start finding the back of the net.

If he doesn't, Everton could find themselves in trouble.

Calvert-Lewin needs to start finding the back of the net Everton have lost their last three Premier League home games against Aston Villa, as many as in their previous 19 against them at Goodison Park in the league (W7 D9). Since their return to the Premier League in 2019, Aston Villa have remained unbeaten in their nine league games against Everton (W7 D2), keeping six clean sheets and winning the last five in a row. Everton have lost each of their last three Premier League games; the Toffees haven’t lost four in a row since March 2022 under Frank Lampard, while manager Sean Dyche last did so in April 2022 as Burnley boss.

Everton vs Aston Villa: Team news

The hosts have concerns over Dwight McNeil, who has an ankle problem.

But Abdoulaye Doucoure is back from a minor hamstring strain and Ashley Young is also back on the grass.

Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia remain out for Villa with ACL injuries.

Bertrand Traore is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Lucas Digne is out with a hamstring issue.

But Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans are back in full training and could be involved.

Doucoure has been brilliant for Everton this season Since Everton won 1-0 against a table-topping Arsenal side in February in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge, the Toffees haven’t won any of their nine Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top six of the division (D1 L8), losing their last seven in a row. Aston Villa won 85 points in the Premier League in 2023, second only to Manchester City (93). Their 26 league wins last year were the second-most in one year in their league history, only winning more in 1972 (28) when they were playing in the second and third tiers of English football. Only Sheffield United (7) have conceded more Premier League goals from corners than Everton (6) this season. They’ve conceded from a corner in each of their last three league games – as many as in their previous 39 matches combined.

Everton vs Aston Villa: What has been said?

Villa manager Emery is anticipating a very tough match.

He said: "They are progressively getting better.

"Playing and being very competitive and as well with the issues with the points they are playing well and being very competitive each match.

It's very difficult to beat them in their stadium, with their fans."

Emery has Villa flying high at the top end of the tableCredit: AFP Douglas Luiz’s 89th-minute winning penalty against Burnley in Aston Villa’s last game in 2023 was the seventh Premier League goal this season they’ve scored in the 89th minute or later, the joint-most of any side along with Liverpool. Indeed, three have been scored by Luiz, the joint most by a player along with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Unai Emery is currently averaging 2.02 points-per-game in the Premier League with Aston Villa (91 points in 45 games). He is currently the only manager in Premier League history to manage 40+ games with a club and have an average of two or more points-per-game but not to have won the title with that side. No player has more Premier League assists this season than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (8), while only Mohamed Salah (22) and Erling Haaland (18) have more goals and assists combined than the Villa frontman (9 goals, 8 assists). He’s only the fifth different English player with 8+ goals and 8+ assists in his team’s opening 20 games of a season, and first since Harry Kane in 2020-21 (12 goals, 11 assists). Since Sean Dyche’s first game in charge of Everton in February 2023, James Tarkowski has blocked more shots (62) than any other player, has made the second-most clearances (174) and third-most headed clearances (98). Indeed, between 2017-18 and Dyche’s last game at Burnley in April 2022, Tarkowski topped all three metrics in the competition (236 blocks, 967 clearances, 571 headed clearances).

Everton vs Aston Villa: Date and how to follow

This Premier League clash is set to take place on Sunday, January 14.

Kick-off at Goodison Park is scheduled for 2pm.

Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League will broadcast the action.

Sky Go customers will be able watch the match via their laptops or mobile devices.

Alternatively, viewers can purchase a NOW TV membership.

talkSPORT will have updates throughout and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.