Unai Emery has done plenty of work ahead of Everton’s clash against Aston Villa, and something has stood out to him.
Everton fans will be relieved that David Moyes’ side return to action in the Premier League.
After a promising August, September can follow what was an impressive start to the season, as the Toffees are flying.
It’s still very early days in the season, and a game against Villa will certainly be testing after the break.
Everton don’t have the best record vs Villa, but Moyes will be hoping to end their nine-year winless run against the Villans, and Emery knows of the Blues’ threat.
Everton boss David Moyes alongside Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says Everton have been ‘fantastic’
Before the game, the Villa boss has been speaking to the media and revealed what he’s noticed about the Toffees.
The Aston Villa website relayed his quotes from the Friday presser, with the Spaniard saying: “They won the last two matches, playing fantastic. They won last time away at Wolverhampton playing fantastic.
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“I watched those matches, analysed those matches, and they’re playing good football,” Emery added.
“They have experienced players. It’s a club with a new stadium, and they’re excited, the supporters, the players, and the club.
“It’s the Premier League and I want to play matches like this. To play in Everton with the new stadium, for me, individually as a coach, it’s a privilege to be there.”
Taking into account the West Midlands side’s start to the season, it’s actually Emery’s side that look like the underdog.
But the Scotsman will know not to underestimate a side that recently played Champions League football, and with Iliman Ndiaye potentially injured, Moyes has another issue.
David Moyes has unanswered question at left back with limited options for Everton vs Aston Villa
During Moyes’ own press conference, he left a question unanswered ahead of the Villa game.
There’s uncertainty about who starts at left-back during the second game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, after Vitaliy Mykolenko got injured again.
But the Scot has made it clear that the Ukrainian could start, as there could be a chance for a second appearance at left-back for James Garner.
“Myko is around it. We’ll need to see whether he’s going to make it or not. Hopefully, he might be okay,” Moyes said in the pre-match press conference.
“He had felt something in the game against Wolves, and he’d made it known, but he felt that he was fine to go to Ukraine, but once he got there, he felt that maybe he wasn’t quite right, so he came away from it.”
Emery might think the Toffees have played well, but Moyes might have to do some more experimenting.