Aston Villa star who David Moyes tried to sign in 2020 could come back to haunt Everton
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Thu 11 September 2025 14:41, UK
David Moyes could suffer at the hands of one of his former targets as Everton prepare to welcome Aston Villa to Merseyside.
Everton beat Wolves in a dramatic five-goal thriller just before the international break, a result which saw the Toffees move up to fifth in the Premier League table after three games.
Hugo Bueno was denied a penalty as the Old Gold suffered a third straight league defeat, but Moyes’ side will be far more focused to continue their incredible form against the Villans on Saturday, 13 September.
While Iliman Ndiaye was the main man last season, Jack Grealish has hit the ground running at Everton, notching four assists in his first two Premier League starts.
That form, however, could come to a halt at the hands of Unai Emery.
Credit: Imago
The Villans have not faced defeat against Everton in 12 Premier League meetings, with the last loss coming in March 2016 after goals from Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon, and Romelu Lukaku.
Right now, though, Emery’s side are still without their first win of the 2025-26 league campaign, only getting a single point on the board thanks to their goalless draw against Newcastle United.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
Villa are currently the only team in the top four divisions of English football yet to hit the back of the net, leaving Ollie Watkins with something to prove when the Toffees welcome them to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ollie Watkins loves playing against Everton.
(Credit Imago)
Moyes knows full well the talent that lies at the striker’s feet, having attempted to sign him from Brentford in 2020 [The Sun], which the manager later confirmed during his time at West Ham.
In 10 matches against the Merseyside club, he has been on the winning side eight times, losing just once in an EFL Cup clash in 2023-24, and has notched five goals and three assists in that time.
The striker has only scored more goals against Brentford, Liverpool, Arsenal, Fulham, and Brighton during his long, successful career, and Moyes’ failure to sign him at West Ham could backfire this weekend.
All signs point towards Everton picking up their second Premier League loss this term, even despite Villa’s awful form so far, and defeat could come at the hands of Watkins, who will be keen to make a statement.