Aston Villa secured a crucial victory over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, further complicating Everton's precarious position in the Premier League standings. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Aston Villa, courtesy of a decisive goal from Ollie Watkins. With this win, Aston Villa climbed to seventh in the league, just three points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, while Everton remains in 16th place, perilously close to the relegation zone.
Everton's current form is concerning, with the team suffering three consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring a single goal. The Toffees have failed to find the net in nine of their last 11 league encounters, highlighting a significant problem in their attacking prowess. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose contract expires in six months, has not scored since September and is goalless in his last 16 games, totaling 1,212 minutes of football.
David Moyes, who recently returned to Everton as manager, has acknowledged the difficulties facing his team. Despite the high expectations surrounding his return, Moyes's team fell short against an in-form Aston Villa side.
"Ultimately it is not just this one game tonight, it has been other games and I think it is there for everybody to see," said Moyes.
The match marked Aston Villa's first away league victory since October and their first clean sheet on the road since April of last year. This triumph continued their impressive record at Goodison Park, where they have now won four of their last five league outings. Additionally, Aston Villa has achieved ten Premier League away victories against Everton, more than against any other opponent.
Ollie Watkins emerged as the hero for Aston Villa, scoring his ninth Premier League goal of the season. His performance not only secured three points for his team but also extended Aston Villa's winning streak in Premier League away games at Everton.
"By the way, I can't 'magic' all that to change, I just can't do it. We are needing to get those levels up. The situation the club has been in it has probably not been able to go to a level of player in the market which might make the difference," Moyes explained.
The match was historic in its own right, marking the 214th meeting between Everton and Aston Villa, a record for any fixture in the Premier League. Despite Everton's struggles, this long-standing rivalry continues to captivate fans and deliver memorable moments.
Everton's recent slump has seen them win just one of their last 12 league matches, a worrying statistic for Moyes and his team. The lack of goals has been a critical issue, with Calvert-Lewin's prolonged goal drought only adding to their woes. Moyes is under no illusions about the challenges ahead as he seeks to rejuvenate his squad and restore their competitive edge.
"I don't think there was an awful lot in the game. I'm under no illusions of the job I've got to do. We could not score a goal again," Moyes conceded after the match.
For Aston Villa, this victory represents an encouraging start to the year. This win marks the first time since 2009 that Aston Villa has won both of their opening two Premier League games of a calendar year. The team's upward trajectory underlines their ambitions to challenge for higher honors this season.
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