Aston Villa and Everton arrived at the starting post with very different expectations for the 2023/24 Premier League season, but neither had anything to cheer after chastening first-week losses.
Everton threw everything at Fulham in their curtain-raiser at Goodison Park but could not find the net and ended up losing 1-0.
Villa, meanwhile, were cut to shreds by Newcastle at St James' Park, slumping to a dismal 5-1 defeat and losing key defender Tyrone Mings to a serious injury.
This is a fixture, however, that seems to bring out the best in Villa, who can recover best from last weekend's woes to get three points on the board.
- Aston Villa to win
- Ollie Watkins anytime scorer
Villa Can Bounce Back
There was a real fanfare of expectation around Villa Park after the progress made under Unai Emery which resulted in a seventh-place finish and a return to European football.
But it didn't take long for a reality check as they crashed 5-1 at Newcastle, cut apart by a Toon team playing at the very highest level.
It was a bad afternoon all round for Villa, who lost Tyrone Mings to injury and looked uncomfortable defensively as new players endeavoured to bed in.
They did, however, still almost match Newcastle shot for shot to emphasise that the attacking side of their game is still in good health. United were just more clinical.
But given the front players – the likes of John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and new signing Moussa Diaby who looked seriously promising – still carry a threat and we know Everton really do not, then the home side can land the odds.
Villa have a great record in this fixture having done the double over the Toffees in each of the last two seasons. Indeed, Everton have managed to score just once against Villa in their last five clashes – and that was a Lucas Digne own goal.
Last week it was a case of the same old, same old for Everton, who racked up 19 shots against Fulham, had a goal disallowed, forced nine saves from Bernd Leno – and lost 1-0.
Only Wolves scored fewer top-flight goals than Everton last season and the same problems persist with Dwight McNeil out, Neal Maupay ineffective and Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to be hurried back from an injury because Sean Dyche can ill-afford to be without him.
Watkins Can Build On Last Term's Form
What Everton wouldn't give to have a striker of the calibre of Ollie Watkins, who banged in 15 league goals for Villa last season.
He cut a frustrated figure at St James' Park – as did everyone in a Villa shirt – yet still had a couple of sighters on goal, worked tirelessly as the focal point of a bright front four, but went unrewarded.
He will have easier days, one of which may well be against Everton, whose defensive unit can be exposed.
