Premier League Preview: Everton - Aston Villa

EVERTON Howard Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines Heitinga, Osman Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Fellaini Stracqualursi

ASTON VILLA Given Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock N’Zogbia, Delph, Petrov, Agbonlahor Heskey, Bent

David Moyes will have selection issues from now until the season's halfway point with Victor Anichebe out until Christmas, giving the Scotsman just one fully fit striker in new boy Denis Stracqualursi.

Louis Saha should be fit enough for the bench, but the absence of Mikel Arteta’s dynamism in the middle may leave the Toffees' fans wanting more out of Leon Osman. He has the ability to be a replacement of sorts for the Spaniard’s missing zest, but it remains to be seen whether the he can step up to the plate.

Meanwhile, Alex McLeish will have to wait till the last moment to see if Darren Bent is able to feature in the clash at Goodison Park after coming back from international duty carrying an injury.

However, Saturday’s match could well be the occasion for more debutant performances, with both Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas making their way north of the capital to join the Villans, with the former being more likely to get a starting position due to Luke Young vacating the right back spot as he went to Queens Park Rangers.

• Since the inception of the Premier League, Everton has struggled to keep its goal difference each campaign in positive figures and its overall figure currently stands at -15. Aston Villa, though, has been a little more impressive with a figure of 68.

• Both of these clubs top goalscorer in the Premier League netted a total of 60 goals for their outfits, with Everton’s in the form of Duncan Ferguson and Villa’s being Dwight Yorke.

• Before the well known colors of claret and blue graced the players of Aston Villa, the Villans would take to the pitch in sky blue and chocolate brown.

• The Toffees have not beaten Saturday’s opponent in the Premier League since March 2006 – this run of 10 matches without a win is their longest against any current top-flight side.

• David Moyes’ captain Phil Neville will make his 200th Premier League appearance for the Merseyside outfit should the Scot play this weekend.

• Moyes and his opposite number Alex McLeish have met six times while in charge of a club, with both men having one win apiece, while the other four matches ended all square.

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