Cracking the Toffee nut: Aston Villa v Everton match preview and team news

Goalless Villa settled for a point against Everton in the Premier League in September

The most recent instalment of the English top flight’s most-played fixture might be looked back upon as the end of a brief but miserable chapter.

Aston Villa failed to score or even look like scoring for a fourth consecutive Premier League match, adding a second goalless draw to defeats against Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Villa scored in the next game at Sunderland, another draw. It was a baffling start but it feels like a long time ago now. Unai Emery and his players haven’t looked back.

Everton are one of five teams to keep Villa out in any fixture this season and it was one of eight clean sheets the Toffees have achieved in the league. David Moyes teams have a certain stubbornness and this Everton side is no exception.