Why David Moyes was present during Aston Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace
Aston Villa and Everton have come face-to-face multiple times this summer.
Everton tried to sign Aston Villa captain John McGinn, but Unai Emery remained adamant that the Scotland international wouldn’t be offloaded.
The two sides have developed history of exchanging players, with Tim Iroegbunam making the switch to Everton last summer.
Lewis Dobbin and Amadou Onana went the other way, and the two sides are set for another battle after David Moyes was spotted at Villa Park.
David Moyes preparing for Aston Villa vs Everton
Aston Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was brutal, with a multitude of issues emerging before the game.
Emery didn’t involve Emi Martinez as his mind was elsewhere, with a move to Manchester United on the cards.
As a result, Marco Bizot started and was at fault for two of the three goals conceded.
According to The Times, Moyes was a guest of the Villa boardroom for the Premier League clash as Emery’s side slipped to defeat.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Scottish manager wasn’t in the crowd as a potential replacement for his Spanish counterpart.
He was not there for any other reason than to take a closer look at Villa, who are Everton’s next opponents.
Moyes will like what he witnessed from the defeat, but with less turmoil expected before the Villans visit Merseyside, there could be a much different outcome.
The Toffees have won two of their opening three Premier League games, with Aston Villa yet to win or score.
Emery’s side, who are usually free-flowing in front of goals, are the only team in England’s top four tiers yet to score, and that must change after the international break.
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Aston Villa have ideal opportunity to get first win vs Everton
The Toffees have started their 2025/26 campaign off well, but there are still gaps that Emery can take advantage of.
In the Blues’ opening game with Leeds, they looked defensively unstable against the Premier League newcomers.
Moyes’ side also conceded two in their win against Wolves, allowing the Villans an ideal opportunity to get their first goals of the season.
Aston Villa’s opening four 2024/25 Premier League games:
- August 17, 2024 – West Ham United 2–1 Aston Villa
- August 24, 2024 – Aston Villa 1–1 Arsenal
- August 31, 2024 – Aston Villa 3–0 Crystal Palace
- September 7, 2024 – Aston Villa 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Villans struggled in their opening games last season, so their form won’t worry Emery.
With the international break allowing new signings Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho to get up to speed, the pair could cause problems for their next opponents.
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