Ollie Watkins’ cool finish in the 51st minute condemned Everton to defeat as David Moyes returned for his second spell as manager at Goodison Park.
England striker Watkins collected Morgan Rogers’ incisive pass and produced a composed strike to beat the advancing Jordan Pickford as Villa secured their third successive victory in all competitions.
The Villans overtook Bournemouth into seventh place – tied on points with Manchester City – and kept Everton one point above the relegation zone after a third successive league defeat without scoring.
A great 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
Moyes makes losing comeback
Moyes made Everton a regular European contender during his 11 years at the club before leaving in 2013, and they produced a respectable performance against a Champions League side as the Scot once again took charge.
The 61-year-old said he challenged Dominic Calvert-Lewin to immediately add to his tally of two goals this season, and the former England striker came close, although Villa comfortably cleared his effort in first half before shooting over. the full-time bar is approaching.
Everton applied late pressure with a succession of balls inside the box, but their lack of cutting edge would not have been a surprise to Moyes or anyone who has seen 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 avoid a relegation battle in his first press conference, and their fate will likely depend on whether he can convince more goals from a group who have now failed to score in five of their last six league matches.
They will next face two defensively sensitive opponents, hosting Tottenham on Sunday (2 p.m. BST) before traveling to Brighton on January 25 (3 p.m.).
“I hate to say it, I don’t think we’ve been at our best this season” 😤
Morgan Rogers says Villa are back to their best after first away win in five games 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ma1SgwOLbq
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Villa finally wins
Playing away for the first time since their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 26, Villa – as Watkins said afterwards – would have been reasonable to view their task as tricky against a potentially rejuvenated Everton.
Two home wins in six days this month contrast with Villa’s away form, including five successive league defeats by an aggregate score of 14-2.
This result is perhaps just the boost of confidence that Unai Emery’s team needed before traveling to Arsenal on Saturday (5:30 p.m.), where they won 2-0 in April, and to Monaco in Champions League Tuesday (5:45 p.m.).
