Ollie Watkins’ cool 51st-minute finish consigned Everton to defeat on David Moyes’ return for his second spell as manager at Goodison Park.
England forward Watkins collected Morgan Rogers’ incisive pass and produced a composed strike to beat the advanced Jordan Pickford as Villa secured their third consecutive win in all competitions.
The Villans rose above Bournemouth to seventh – level on points with Manchester City – and ensured Everton remain a point above the relegation zone after a third consecutive league loss without scoring.
A lovely play from Morgan Rogers finds Ollie Watkins to break the deadlock at Goodison! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/k9zCee6Og2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
📰 Table Of Contents
Moyes makes losing return
Moyes made Everton regular European contenders during his 11 years at the club before leaving in 2013, and they produced a respectable showing against Champions League opponents as the Scot took charge once more.
The 61-year-old said he had challenged Dominic Calvert-Lewin to immediately add to his total of two goals this season, and the former England striker went closest, although Villa comfortably cleared his first-half effort off the line before he shot over the bar with full-time nearing.
Everton applied late pressure with a succession of balls inside the box, but their lack of cutting edge would have been no surprise to Moyes or anyone who has watched them flirt with danger again this season.
Ipswich Town can move above Everton when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. Moyes publicly backed his players to steer clear of a relegation battle at his first press conference, and their fate looks likely to depend on whether he can coax more goals from a group who have now failed to score in five of their last six league games.
They face two defensively susceptible opponents next, hosting midtable Tottenham on Sunday (2pm BST) before heading to Brighton on January 25 (3pm).
“I hate to say it, I don’t think we’ve been at our best this season” 😤
Morgan Rogers says that Villa are building back to their best after their first away win in five games 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ma1SgwOLbq
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Villa win away at last
Playing away for the first time since their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 26, Villa – as Watkins said afterwards – would have been sensible to view their task as a tricky one against a potentially rejuvenated Everton.
Two home wins in six days this month have provided a contrast to Villa’s form on the road, including five successive league defeats by an aggregate score of 14-2.
This result may have been just the confidence boost Unai Emery’s side required before travelling to Arsenal on Saturday (5.30pm), where they won 2-0 in April, and Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday (5.45pm).
