Everton vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Buendia heads home Digne’s corner

Follow all the latest reaction from Goodison Park after Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa beat Duncan Ferguson’s Everton

Emi Buendia on the ball for Villa (AP)

Everton are taking Aston Villa at Goodison Park this afternoon as the Toffees begin life after Rafa Benitez. The Spanish manager was sacked following a dismal run of results which have left them 16th in the Premier League with only five wins all season, and it is down to caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson to arrest the slide while the club searches for a permanent replacement.

Villa meanwhile are enjoying life under Steven Gerrard, and victory today would lift them into the top half of the table at least temporarily before this afternoon’s matches. The obvious sub-plot is Gerrard vs Ferguson, two legends of Liverpool and Everton respectively going head to head on Merseyside. “I was surprised and shocked Rafa wanted to go and have a go at that job, with his legacy and his relationship with Liverpool,” Gerrard said this week. “Big Dunc will take the reins for this game and it’s quite obvious what type of reaction he’ll get. We need to be ready for that.”

Follow all the reaction from the Premier League game at Goodison Park below.

Everton vs Aston Villa

• Everton: Pickford; Kenny, Mina (c), Holgate, Godfrey; Townsend, Doucoure, Gomes, Gray; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
• Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings (c), Digne; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
• GOAL! Buendia heads home Digne’s corner, Everton 0-1 Villa (45+2)

[22 January 2022 13:56 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

66 mins: From zero shots in the first half, Everton have had seven already since the restart. They’ve pushed Villa back over the last 20 minutes or so and are unlucky to still be behind.

Abdoulaye Doucoure seems to have picked up a knock as has gone off with teenager Tyler Onyango the man to replace him.

[22 January 2022 13:53 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

63 mins: Chance! Everton are getting closer! They win a corner and whip the ball into the box. Anthony Gordon flicks the ball across to Dominic Calvert-Lewin who keeps it in play on the byline with a header back into the middle. Ben Godfrey is there to fire a header at goal but Martinez gets a hand to it and Tyrone Mings heads it off the line!

[22 January 2022 13:50 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

60 mins: Villa relieve the pressure with a strong run from Ramsey. He drives up through midfield and brings the ball to the edge of the box before getting squeezed by Yerry Mina and Allan. Mina is booked for the tackle and Villa have a free kick.

Philippe Coutinho is the one to take it but he’s too close to goal to get the ball over the wall and down in time to score. His effort goes over the goal.

[22 January 2022 13:48 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

58 mins: Chance! Everton’s pressure almost pays off was Demarai Gray drives at the Aston Villa defence. He pulls a couple of defenders out of position and has his effort blocked by Tyrone Mings. The ball comes out to Gordon who flicks it quickly back into the box. Richarlison wins the header and loops it over towards the far corner but it narrowly goes over the crossbar!

[22 January 2022 13:46 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

56 mins: Anthony Gordon is the next Everton substitute to make an appearance as Duncan Ferguson tries to spark some momentum in the final third for the Toffees. Andros Townsend is the man replaced.

Doucoure receives the ball on the edge of the box and has a snapshot blocked by Buendia.

[22 January 2022 13:43 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

53 mins: Aston Villa players Matty Cash and Lucas Digne appeared to be hit as Everton fans threw plastic drinks bottles in their direction as they celebrated a goal at Goodison Park on Saturday.

After Emi Buendia glanced in Digne’s cross to give Aston Villa the lead shortly before half-time, the visiting players celebrated in the corner in front of the Everton fans.

Several plastic drinks bottles were thrown at the Aston Villa players from the stands as they celebrated the goal. The majority of those bottles missed the Villa players, but Cash and Digne went down after being struck by a plastic drinks bottle which appeared to be full.

[22 January 2022 13:42 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

52 mins: Duncan Ferguson is the first manager to look to the bench as he brings on Allan for Andre Gomes.

[22 January 2022 13:40 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

50 mins: It’s been a decent start to the second half for Everton. They win a free kick just on the tip of the Aston Villa ‘D’ and Demarai Gray has the chance to shoot. He takes the set piece and whacks it straight at Emi Buendia who heads the ball behind for a corner.

The corner ball is whipped across to Dominic Calvert-Lewin but his headed effort goes wide.

[22 January 2022 13:38 · Michael Jones]

Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

48 mins: Chance! Ollie Watkins makes a fine run down the right wing and drives the ball into the box. He dribbles past Abdoulaye Doucoure and works his way into the penalty area. Philippe Coutinho makes a run into the middle of the box but Watkins’ cutback is behind him and Everton work the ball away.

[22 January 2022 13:36 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

Kick off: Everton get the match restarted with a long ball down the left wing. Richarlison heads it into the box but Ezri Konsa is covering and clears the Aston Villa lines.