View: Ollie Watkins starts, still no Tyrone Mings – Aston Villa predicted XI v Everton
Aston Villa host Everton at Villa Park in the Saturday lunch time kickoff in the Premier League with Steven Gerrard looking for his first points of the season.
The Villans suffered a 2-0 defeat on the opening day against Bournemouth in a disappointing performance, and the boss made it clear that it wasn’t good enough on the day.
But with the first home game of the season now upon us, is Gerrard likely to make lots of changes to the Aston Villa side?
Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed number one choice in goal despite the summer arrival of Robin Olsen and that won’t change here.
In defence, we’re unlikely to see many changes too. Matty Cash and Lucas Digne are established Premier League full-backs with great quality at both ends of the pitch and should start too.
Gerrard has faced some criticism for his decision to drop Tyrone Mings, but the Liverpool legend will more than likely stick by his decision and keep the former captain on the bench. Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos will start at centre-back.
The midfield seemed to lack a bit of creativity, but rather than a personnel change Gerrard could instead opt to change the system slightly.
Boubacar Kamara will start at the base of the midfield to sweep up and hold the fort, ahead of Brazilian Douglas Luiz once again. New captain John McGinn will start slightly ahead of him, while youngster Jacob Ramsay will look to provide an attacking spark from deep.
Philippe Coutinho could be brought in-field from the left-wing into a number ten position to add more goal threat and give him a bit more freedom on the pitch to drift and cause problems.
That would mean a switch to a front-two instead of two wingers and a striker, which should see last season’s top goalscorer Ollie Watkins come into the side in place of Leon Bailey to partner Danny Ings and try and cause Everton issues.
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Everton; Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Digne; Kamara; McGinn, Ramsay; Coutinho; Watkins, Ings.
In other Aston Villa news, Paul McGrath has had his say on the Tyrone Mings and Steven Gerrard beef