Watkins winner beats toothless Toffees on Moyes’ return
Ollie Watkins’ superb 51st-minute finish handed Everton a defeat as David Moyes returned to Goodison Park for the second time as manager.
England striker Watkins picked up Morgan Rogers’ incisive pass and fired a confident shot to beat the advanced Jordan Pickford, securing Villa their third successive win in all competitions.
The Villans rose above Bournemouth to seventh place – tied on points with Manchester City – and ensured Everton remain one point above the relegation zone after their third league defeat in a row without scoring.
A lovely move from Morgan Rogers sees Ollie Watkins break the deadlock at Goodison! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/k9zCee6Og2
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Moyes brings back the loss
Moyes His 11 years at the club made Everton a regular European contender before leaving in 2013, and they put in a respectable performance against a Champions League team as the Scot took charge again.
The 61-year-old said he challenged Dominic Calvert-Lewin to immediately add to his two-goal total this season and the former England striker came closest, although Villa had his first-half effort comfortably cleared off the line before he shot over the line the bar with a full-time approach.
Everton applied late pressure with a series of balls inside the penalty area, but their lack of penetration would not have come as a surprise to Moyes or anyone who saw them flirt with danger again this season.
Ipswich Town can overtake Everton when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. Moyes publicly backed his players to avoid a relegation battle at his first press conference and their fate may depend on whether he can coax more goals out of a group that has now failed to score in five of its last six league games.
They next face two defensively vulnerable opponents: they host midfield side Tottenham on Sunday (2pm BST), before traveling to Brighton on January 25 (3pm).
“I hate to say it, I don’t think we were at our best this season” 😤
Morgan Rogers says Villa are back to top form after their first away win in five games 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ma1SgwOLbq
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Villa finally wins away
Playing away for the first time since the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 26, Villa – as Watkins said afterwards – would reasonably have seen their task against a potentially rejuvenated Everton as difficult.
Two home wins in six days this month contrasted Villa’s away form, including five consecutive league defeats by an aggregate score of 14-2.
That result may have been just the confidence boost Unai Emery’s side needed before traveling to Arsenal on Saturday (5.30pm), where they won 2-0 in April, and Monaco on Tuesday (5.45pm) to the Champions League went.
