Match Preview: Everton v Villa

Who are we playing?
Everton on Saturday 18th October at 3pm.

Where are we playing?
Goodison Park
Goodison Road,
Liverpool
Merseyside
L4 4EL

Can I go?
Not unless you've already bagged a ticket. Despite the uncomfy seats and lousy views afforded by the away section, we've flogged our allocation.

Easy to get to?

Lime Street

There are decent public transport links but our method of choice over the years has been train to Lime Street, drink in the city centre and then cab it to the ground. We've had some wild adventures attempting the journey home in the past too, so check your train home is actually running...

Can I watch it on telly?
A Saturday 3 o'clocker so it won't be on proper UK telly. Plenty of dodgy web streams and pubs with foreign dishes are available if you wanna watch on the box.

Big game?
Huge.

Everton are yet to pull up any trees this season, seemingly falling victim to the curse of the Europa League (where they've been putting out strong sides) and will be keen to get their league season going with the three points here.

Villa face this on the back of three straight defeats and will need to get something here to regain the momentum of the early fixtures.

We have looked largely sterile going forward but the re-emergence of Christian Benteke must give us hope of a more goal strewn run and encouraging cameos from young Jack Grealish will also put pressure on Gabby and Weimann if that pair to remain in the starting line-up.

Villa's much improved back line is under threat from injuries, which will give Everton hope.

The ginger one out of Girls Aloud

Do Everton have any famous fans?
Well, there's Lee from Steps, Sly Stallone off of the Rambo films, ear splitting 80's pop poppet Sonia and the ginger one out of Girls Aloud

We've got fiddle playing scruffbox Nigel Kennedy.

So we win.

Senderos out injured

Who's playing for us?
Looks like international duty has done us out of the services of the surprisingly reliable Phil Senderos and gawd knows whether Ron Vlaar is ready for a full ninety having been on the missing list for weeks with his dodgy calf.

With Jores Okore seemingly sliding down the pecking order, there must be the distinct and horrifying possibility that Lambert will risk pairing Baker and Clark again, despite some nightmare performances from the partnership last term. That said, Baker has looked much improved in his outings this term, so fingers crossed that it won't be the car crash that some of us are expecting.

We'd love Big Chris to start but only if he's ready.

Who's playing for them?
They've lost John Stones for months with ankle damage while this one may well have come around too quickly for the recovering Ross Barkley.


Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

• Everton have beaten us 79 times while we also have 79 wins. There have been 58 draws.

Dennis

• Our last win at Goodison was back in December 2008. Two goals from Ashley Young and one from Steve Sidwell saw us squeak through 3-2 despite a brace from Joleon Lescott.

• We last beat Everton at Villa Park in August 2010, winning by a single goal from Luke Young

• Our first ever league meeting was in September 1888. Dennis Hodgetts scored both of our goals in a 2-1 triumph.

Prediction

Being wildly optimistic here and hoping we can stay solid at the back and pinch it by the odd goal