Joe Roberts

Sun 20 August 2023 17:45, UK

Aston Villa got their first points of the Premier League season after a dominant 4-0 win against a weak Everton side at Villa Park on Sunday (20 August).

Captain John McGinn opened the scoring with a clever finish inside the six-year area courtesy of a well-placed Leon Baily pass inside the box after some impressive footwork.

Just six minutes later at the 28-minute mark, Villa earned a penalty after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford brought Ollie Watkins down in the box, with the subsequent spot-kick slotted away to the bottom right by Douglas Luiz.

Super-substitute Jhon Duran scored just 50 seconds after replacing Ollie Watkins which summed up a splendid afternoon for Aston Villa fans as their side brought back the hope and optimism of pre-season.

Here Villa News rates the players out of ten for their performances at Villa Park.

Emi Martinez – 7

While the shot-stopper did not have much to do on the afternoon, he did what he had to when called upon. Keeping a clean sheet would have been a priority for the Argentine after letting five in last week but with two saves and one successful run out, the World Cup winner showed his value when he needed to. (SofaScore)

Lucas Digne – 5

The Frenchman proved his worth going forward, making a nuisance of himself up and down the left wing. With 91% pass accuracy (48/53), Digne was a reliable source of crosses for the attackers, but with just one hitting the mark, he could have been more lethal. He also lost possession a match-high 20 times, giving Everton more than they deserved. That being said, he was regularly knocking on Everton’s door and was key in making space for others.

Pau Torres – 7

The defence had very little to do on the day. Pau Torres kept himself assured on his full Premier League debut and had big shoes to fill in the absence of Tyrone Mings. He will be very happy with a clean sheet and Villa fans will feel much more confident in the Spaniard going into the rest of the season. With three clearances and two aerial duels won, he will hope that this is the first of many solid performances.

Ezri Konsa – 6

Ezri Konsa often found himself much higher up the pitch than many expected. A dashing run in the second half made him look like a natural striker, but he helped dominate Villa’s high line and proved exceptional at stopping the Everton attack. While a few misjudged passes and clearances hampered a good outing, his 94% pass accuracy (63/67) and four clearances show why Emery backs him.

Matty Cash – 6

With less license to bomb up the wing than Digne, Matty Cash proved defensively sound across the match. He linked play well from Martinez in goal to the midfield and with three blocks and two clearances, he showed his defensive ability. Perhaps more was to be desired going forward for the Polish international with just one successful dribble across the 90.

Douglas Luiz – 8

He slotted his penalty away with the conviction that summed up Villa’s whole performance. A trooper in the midfield, his heatmap shows that he was influential across the park. While Everton offered little themselves, the Brazilian had an answer to every knock, with two clearances, one blocked shot and one interception.

Boubacar Kamara – 5

While not a standout performance from Kamara, he helped Luiz patrol the midfield and got stuck into challenges when needed. He lost possession a few more times than he would have liked, with 9, but helped progress the ball up the pitch with three successful long balls and contributed heavily to the clean sheet.

John McGinn – 7

His ability to find the smallest area of space to convert the opening goal showed his excellent footballing intelligence. With the side needing a big win to bounce back after the Newcastle chaos, the captain popped up to announce Villa in the Premier League this season. Outside of this, however, he did not offer as much compared to his teammates and lost possession 12 times, but his contribution to the match trumps this.

Moussa Diaby – 5

Many expected the Moussa Diaby show at Villa Park. He was the sole standout against Newcastle, but unfortunately has the spotlight taken from him by another attacker. With two shots, he rarely challenged Pickford. He lost possession nine times too and will hope to make a bigger impact next weekend.

Leon Bailey – 9

After a poor performance against Newcastle last weekend, many had written the Jamaican off as nothing more than a third-choice winger who could be sold. Bailey proved his critics wrong with a standout performance in his Aston Villa career. Earning himself the third goal of the match and an assist for McGinn’s opener, the 26-year-old was electric on the wing. With 0.33 xG and 0.68 xA against Everton, he was the most influential player on the park.

Ollie Watkins – 4

While he may have liked a little bit more service from his fellow attackers, Watkins was inconsequential on the day. He did win the penalty and was in a dangerous position, but Pickford’s blunder was the main cause here. With just one shot, which was off target, he was immediately shown up by his replacement Jhon Duran who scored 50 seconds after coming on.

Substitutes

Youri Tielemans (on for Leon Bailey, 63′) – 6

Philippe Coutinho (on for Douglas Luiz, 64. Off for Archer, 85′) – 5

Diego Carlos (on for Moussa Diaby, 64′) – 6

Jhon Duran (on for Watkins, 74′) – 7

Cameron Archer (on for Coutinho, 85′) – 5

In other Aston Villa news, Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell has shared his verdict on an “underrated” and “irreplaceable” Villa player

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