Saturday 21 November 2015 14:58, UK
Remi Garde will be hoping Aston Villa can end their two-month winless run when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday.
The Frenchman made an encouraging start on his debut as Villa boss as his side held Premier League leaders Manchester City to a goalless draw.
That result ended a run of six successive defeats in all competitions, but Villa remain rooted to the foot of the table with just five points from 12 games - their worst-ever haul at this stage of a top-flight season.
While Everton sit ninth, they have lacked consistency over the last couple of months and have won just one of their last five league games.
Striker Romelu Lukaku has enjoyed a positive start to the season, though, and needs just one more goal to hit the 50 mark in the Premier League.
Gerard Deulofeu has also been in fine form with six assists in 10 outings, although Roberto Martinez admitted this week he could lose the Spain U21 international to Barcelona.
Team news
Everton's Tom Cleverley is poised to return to action against his former club, while a late decision will be made on whether Leighton Baines is ready for his maiden first-team appearance of the season.
Both players been sidelined with ankle problems while defenders Brendan Galloway and Tyias Browning will undergo late fitness checks due to knocks and fit-again midfielder Muhamed Besic could make his first appearance since September.
Jordan Amavi will not be available for Villa after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury suffered on international duty with France Under-21s.
The left-back is likely to be replaced by Kieran Richardson while Gabby Agbonlahor is struggling with a calf strain and Rudy Gestede will be monitored after a knee injury.
Ashley Westwood is set to return to the squad after missing the draw with City following a blow to the head, Liverpool loanee Tiago Ilori - who has not featured for the club this season - is training but not match fit while Ciaran Clark is also set to keep Joleon Lescott on the bench.
Opta stats
Everton have lost just one of their last nine league encounters with Villa (W4 D4), although that defeat did come last time out, losing 3-2 at Villa Park last May.
Romelu Lukaku has scored in each of his three top-flight games for Everton against Aston Villa (one in each game).
Lukaku needs one goal to reach 50 in the Premier League, making him only the fifth player in Premier League history to reach the milestone before turning 23 (along with Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo).
Everton have gone six top-flight games without keeping a clean sheet; only West Ham have gone longer (seven games).
Merson's prediction
I think it's another game that suits Aston Villa in a way. The Man City game suited them, they could sit 11 behind the ball, defend, and the crowd were not going to get on their back because they were not piling forward.
They rode their luck, but sometimes you need that luck, and they probably deserved a draw. They will try and do that at Everton, but I think they need a bit more on the counter attack.
Twenty 0-0 draws are not going to keep you up, and I'll go Everton 2-0. I think they'll have too much for them on the attack.
Everton are neither here nor there this season, and they need to get on a run of four or five games. Are they good enough to do that in the long-term? I don't know, but they have the players.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Everton are Sky Bet's odds-on favourites at 4/7 for the victory, with Aston Villa 11/2 for the points while the draw is priced at 11/4. Romelu Lukaku heads the first goalscorer betting at 7/2 while Rudy Gestede is considered the visitors' main goal threat at 17/2 to break the deadlock.
The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have all provided their Sky Bet tips, including Matt Le Tissier's 6/4 fancy for Lukaku to score in a Toffees win.
The Goodison Park clash is part of this week's Super 6 line-up, with a bumper £1m jackpot up for grabs. Make your predictions here.
