The historic "most played fixture in English football" returns to Villa Park today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, as Aston Villa welcomes Everton. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:30 GMT (11:30 ET).
Unai Emery’s side enters this match looking to cement their place in the top three, currently sitting in 3rd place with 43 points. For David Moyes and Everton, the trip to Birmingham is a daunting one, as they face a side that hasn't lost to them in the Premier League since 2019.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Premier League (Matchday 22) |
| Date | Sunday, January 18, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 16:30 GMT / 11:30 ET |
| Venue | Villa Park, Birmingham |
| Referee | Tony Harrington |
| TV Channel | USA Network (US) / Sky Sports (UK) |
Aston Villa: Defending the Fortress
Aston Villa is on an incredible run at home, seeking their 12th successive victory at Villa Park in all competitions—a feat they haven't achieved since the 1971-72 season. Despite a slight cooling of their title challenge following an away loss to Arsenal earlier this month, Villa remains one of the most consistent units in the division.
Team News and Selection:
Injury Concerns: The midfield is stretched thin. Amadou Onana (hamstring), Ross Barkley (knee), and Boubacar Kamara (knee) are all confirmed out.
Goalkeeping Doubt: Emiliano Martínez is facing a late fitness test due to a calf issue. If he cannot start, Marco Bizot is expected to deputize.
Returns: Evann Guessand is back in the squad following his AFCON participation with Ivory Coast, providing cover following the departure of Donyell Malen to Roma.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Tielemans, McGinn; Sancho, Buendía, Rogers; Watkins.
Everton: Grealish Returns Amidst Crisis
David Moyes faces a selection nightmare with up to eight first-team players unavailable. However, the headlines belong to Jack Grealish, who returns to his boyhood club after serving a suspension. The Manchester City loanee has been Everton's primary creative outlet, ranking second in the league for chances created from open play this season.
Team News and Selection:
Suspended: Michael Keane is out as he serves the second of a three-match ban.
AFCON Finalists: Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are unavailable as they represent Senegal in the AFCON final against Morocco today.
Injuries: Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman have returned to light training but are not yet match-fit. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Charly Alcaraz, and Tim Iroegbunam remain sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Garner; McNeil, Dibling, Grealish; Beto (or Barry).
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Unbeatable Villa: Aston Villa is unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League games against Everton (W9, D4).
The Clean Sheet Record: Villa has kept more Premier League clean sheets against Everton (25) than any other opponent in their history.
Home Dominance: Everton has lost their last four visits to Villa Park, their worst losing run at the ground since 2001.
Jack Grealish Factor: Despite his creative numbers, Grealish has yet to record a goal or an assist against Aston Villa in five attempts since leaving the club in 2021.
Tactical Analysis and Prediction
Everton's survival in this match depends on their ability to sustain a compact defensive block. Without Branthwaite and Keane, the burden falls on James Tarkowski and Jake O'Brien to handle Ollie Watkins. While Grealish will undoubtedly draw fouls and create openings, Everton’s lack of a "ruthless finisher" has been their undoing all season.
Villa’s patient build-up play, led by Youri Tielemans and the in-form Morgan Rogers, should eventually tire an Everton midfield that is missing its primary defensive screen in Gueye.
Final Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2–0 Everton
