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 11:27 · Michael Jones]

Everton vs Aston Villa: Steven Gerrard expects Everton reaction

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is expecting a reaction from the Everton players following the sacking of Rafa Benitez and believes his team will be up against it at Goodison Park today. Gerrard said:

You can quite clearly see, listen to and read the noises that are coming from Everton at the moment, which is the caretaker manager demanding a reaction.

“I don’t think it’s difficult to predict what’s going to be coming our way. I think you’re going to see a real cauldron of an atmosphere at Goodison, I think they’ll be behind the team.

“From our point of view, we need to be ready for that, we need to handle that and make sure we’re the best version of ourselves.”

[22 January 2022 11:24 · Michael Jones]

Everton vs Aston Villa: Ferguson ready to fight for Everton

Everton legend Duncan Ferguson is once again in charge of the club following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. He’s in charge on a temporary basis whilst the Club searches for a new permanent manager but he’s ready to fight to turn around the Toffees poor performances.

Speaking to Evertontv he said that everyone needs to pull together to regain the fight and spirit Everton are known for and he’ll do his best to get a positive result from today’s game. Ferguson said:

We need everybody in our corner and to make sure we are all together; everybody at Finch Farm, everybody at the stadium and everybody in the city. I feel very honoured the Club turned to me again.

“I have spoken to the owner and Chairman and they have been very supportive. And we are all willing for us to get a result on Saturday. The Chairman talked about unity and the Everton way and getting our fight and spirit back.

“He is very passionate, a great Everton man. We should always be doing our best for Everton, shouldn’t we?

“We are Evertonians, we love our club and fight as hard as we can for it. It is a difficult time, results have been really poor, to be honest.

“It was an electric atmosphere [against Chelsea], one of the best I’ve experienced at Goodison, and I am sure they [supporters] will be well, well up for it this weekend. We really need them to push us across the line for the whole game.”

[22 January 2022 11:19 · Michael Jones]

Everton vs Aston Villa: Injuries and absentees

Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi are absent for Everton and Allan may also miss the game through illness.

However, Richarlison could return to the starting XI for the first time since December. After a spell on the sidelines with a calf injury he came off the bench to score against Norwich last time out.

Aston Villa are boosted by the return of John McGinn from suspension, but Ezri Konsa will be assessed before the game after picking up a hip injury against Manchester United.

Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet are still at the Africa Cup of Nations so are unavailable to play.

[22 January 2022 11:15 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Everton vs Aston Villa

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 other matches. The obvious sub-plot is Gerrard vs Ferguson, two legends of Liverpool and Everton respectively going head to head on Merseyside.