The second coming of David Moyes confirmed Everton’s new manager is no miracle worker. They could do with one. Everton failed to score for the ninth time in 11 Premier League games as Aston Villa, gradually working their way back to form, punctured hopes of a new‑manager bounce at Goodison Park.
Ollie Watkins struck the only goal of a tight contest, but one Unai Emery’s side deserved to win given their assured defensive performance and quality in the final third. It is a quality Everton sorely lack. Dominic Calvert-Lewin encapsulated the home side’s deficiencies when squandering a glorious chance to equalise in the 93rd minute.
Unless Moyes can cajole improvement from Calvert-Lewin and the forwards he has inherited from Sean Dyche, or conjure solutions in the transfer market, Everton’s Premier League status will remain in peril. Villa, whose six-year rise from the Championship to Champions League qualification puts Everton’s decline into brutal perspective, continue to look in the opposite direction.
“I think it is there for everybody to see,” Moyes said of Everton’s attacking shortcomings. “I can’t magician all that to change after one and a bit days, I just can’t do it. It’s a huge challenge at the moment.
“Sean has brought in a great group with their attitude and commitment but we desperately need to add quality in certain areas to create goals and finish them off.”
With Armando Broja out for 10 to 12 weeks with an ankle ligament injury, the on-loan striker might be returned to Chelsea to free up space for a different loan option.
Calvert‑Lewin for Broja was the only change from Everton’s last league appearance at Goodison Park. The formation was the same as under Dyche too although the defence was not so deep for the new manager, who received a rousing reception when introduced to the crowd before kick-off.
Villa ignored the external fuss and could have wrecked Moyes’s homecoming inside 17 minutes. Amadou Onana, whom Everton sold to Villa last summer to improve their position under profit and sustainability rules, went close from the visitors’ first attack with a shot that deflected off James Tarkowski and sailed just wide. Jordan Pickford produced an excellent save from the resulting corner, tipping away a Morgan Rogers drive that looked to be curling inside the far post.
The Everton keeper was then sold short by a poor backpass from Ashley Young straight to Watkins. The match-winner had a clear sight of Pickford’s goal as he raced through, with the goalkeeper caught out of position, but shot wide. Boubacar Kamara also tested Pickford with a low drive and Jacob Ramsey missed a clear opening in first-half stoppage time, sending a free shot wide from 12 yards and Emery apoplectic on the sideline.
Moyes was getting a crash-course in Everton’s vulnerabilities. He had every reason to doubt Dyche’s assertion that he left “the team in good shape”. Dyche made the comment in a graceful statement via the League Managers’ Association on Wednesday, stressing his pride at leading Everton through an extraordinarily difficult period but also admitting: “The right time has come to leave the club.”
Everton recovered from the early chaos and, pressing Villa tirelessly, created three decent chances to take the lead from open play in the first half. It will not surprise Dyche that none was taken.
Calvert-Lewin, instructed by Moyes to “get his goalscoring boots on” having scored only twice all season, controlled a good ball from Vitalii Mykolenko behind Ezri Konsa and fired wide of Emiliano Martínez’s far post. Abdoulaye Doucouré steered another delivery from the Everton left-back straight at the Villa keeper from 12 yards. Calvert-Lewin did beat Martínez when he was found in front of goal by Jack Harrison’s delicate chip. But the shot, taken off balance, lacked power and Kamara was perfectly placed to clear it off the line.
Aston Villa are confident of signing Loïc Badé from Sevilla. The 24-year-old defender, who received a France call-up in September but is yet to make his senior international debut, would bolster Unai Emery’s back line and represent another early-window boost.
Villa stepped up their efforts to buy a centre-half after Pau Torres sustained a metatarsal injury, which is expected to sideline the Spaniard until March. Villa plan to offload Diego Carlos, who has interest from Turkish clubs, providing they can seal a deal for Badé. Jaden Philogene is also expected to depart after the signing of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund this week.
Badé joined Nottingham Forest on loan from Rennes for the season at the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign but returned to the Ligue 1 club five months later after failing to make a single appearance under Steve Cooper. He has since impressed for Sevilla in La Liga.
Villa signed versatile Dutch forward Malen for an initial £20m, plus about £2.5m in add-ons, and also want to sign a right-back. The Celta Vigo defender Óscar Mingueza has been watched but Villa are assessing alternatives.
Meanwhile, Villa forward Louie Barry, prolific on loan at Stockport during the first half of the season, is the subject of strong interest from Celtic. Championship clubs are also pursuing a deal for the 21-year-old, who could sign a new contract before departing on loan.
Villa were the more composed and confident side. A loose pass just inside the Villa half from Jarrad Branthwaite was all the visitors needed to punish their hosts. Branthwaite won possession then instantly gave it away with a heavy touch to Rogers. The Villa forward threaded a perfectly weighted ball behind Tarkowski into the path of Watkins, who beat Pickford with a convincing finish.
Everton failed to muster a shot on target in the second half until Orel Mangala’s speculative effort in the 92nd minute. Seconds later Calvert‑Lewin should have done much from Jesper Lindstrøm’s inviting cross but skied over from close range. Villa’s first clean sheet away from home in the league this season was safe.
“We’ve started the year fantastic,” Emery said. “I was focusing a lot on this match because it was important for us to get some confidence away and to find some consistency. It is an important win.”
