BBC Sport pundit predicts Aston Villa v Everton Premier League clash at Goodison Park
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton has predicted that Aston Villa will extend their unbeaten run in all competitions when they face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday 14 January.
Unai Emery’s side make the trip to Goodison Park knowing that a win will see them draw level on points with table toppers Liverpool for at least a week as Jurgen Klopp’s side enjoy their winter break.
Villa have narrowly managed to win each of their last two matches, relying on a defelcted Matty Cash strike to bypass Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round and a late Douglas Luiz penalty to claim all three points against 10-man Burnley.
Everton have similarly experienced a difficult run of form over the festive period and are without a win in their last five matches in all competitions, having drawn 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last time out.
While Sunday’s meeting may seem like a routine clash for Emery’s side, Hutton has insisted that it will be anything but, predicting that there will be little to seperate the two sides at Goodison Park.
“Every game is a big game,” Hutton told Villa News while previewing the game.
“Obviously Villa, their away form has got better and I think that was a kind of question mark for them. If they were going to go to the next level they kind of had to obviously up that.
“I think it will be tight if I’m totally honest. I think Sean Dyche has got them totally up for it, got them going, motivated.
“I could see it being a draw.”
Following their trip to Merseyside on Sunday, Emery’s side get to enjoy their own winter break, with a week off before they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Cheslea in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday 26 January.
Before the end of the month, Villa only have one more Premier League match this month as they welcome Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United to Villa Park on Tuesday 30 January.
In other Aston Villa news, Nicolo Zaniola’s future may hang in the balance after an update emerged surrounding Leon Bailey’s future