Aston Villa vs Everton - Predictions, Stats & Odds
Premier League Statistics, AI predictions, (Expected) Lineups and Insights for Gameweek 22
Premier League - Gameweek 22
Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 • 16:30
Villa Park (Aston, Birmingham)
Goals
Game Review
In a tightly contested Premier League encounter at Villa Park, Everton edged out Aston Villa with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to Thierno Barry's (GAP +3.5%) decisive goal in the 59th minute. This result might come as a surprise to some, considering Aston Villa's strong home form leading up to this match. The game was largely balanced, with both teams having their moments. Aston Villa, despite having a slight edge in possession, struggled to break down a resolute Everton defense marshaled by James Tarkowski (GAP +2.1%). The key moment came just before the hour mark when Barry capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the only goal of the match, showcasing his clinical finishing ability. Aston Villa made four changes to their lineup, introducing Emiliano Buendia (GAP -2.8%), Pau Torres (GAP +3.2%), Ian Maatsen (GAP +1.2%), and Lamare Bogarde (GAP -3.3%). These changes were partly due to injuries and suspensions, with Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash unavailable. Everton, on the other hand, made two changes, bringing in Nathan Patterson (GAP -1.2%) and Merlin Röhl, with Michael Keane missing out due to suspension. Jordan Pickford (GAP +2.1%) was instrumental in maintaining Everton's clean sheet, making several crucial saves to deny Aston Villa's attacking threats, particularly from Ollie Watkins (GAP +2.3%). Matty Cash (GAP +5.4%) was another standout performer for Villa, contributing significantly to both defense and attack. Post-match reactions highlighted the tactical discipline of Everton, with their head coach praising the team's defensive solidity and Barry's decisive contribution. Aston Villa's manager expressed disappointment at the missed opportunities but remained optimistic about the team's overall performance. This victory propels Everton further up the table, providing a much-needed boost in their quest for a top-half finish. Aston Villa, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they aim to maintain their position in the upper echelons of the league. The result underscores the competitive nature of the Premier League, where even slight lapses can be costly.
Lineups
Aston Villa
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Substitutes
| 18' | Evann Guessandfor John McGinn |
| 73' | Lucas Dignefor Ian Maatsen |
League Table after the game
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Aston Villa | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 25 | +8 | 43 | W L W D L |
| 10 | Everton | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 25 | -1 | 32 | D W L D W |
Last Games
Head-to-Head
Premier League
Gameweek 22
What is GAP?
What is Plus Minus Goals (G±)?
Plus Minus Goals (G±) is the average goal difference per game while the player was on the pitch. A value above 0 indicates that the team rather wins, a value below 0 means his team concedes more goals than they score when the player is on the pitch. As an example, if the player's team is winning 3:1 the goal difference is +2, if the player's team is loosing 0:1, the goal difference is -1. It is a pure metric which is barely adjusted for circumstances to purely show the goal difference.
What is GAP?
GAP (Game Advantage Percentage) shows the percentage gap between a player and the average league player. It answers the question: How much does a player improve or worsen a team's performance? It is based on high level game data with a focus on the impact on the goal difference (G±) from the last 50 games of a player. Besides that, GAP goes further and considers game context by involving data from the player and all other players who are at the same time on the pitch, no matter if teammates or opponents. Football GAP - the individual metric for team players.