Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia will both be available for selection but haven't trained with the group so while the former should return in goal, the latter may have to make do with a place on the bench. Morgan Sanson and Bertrand Traore both returned to the squad last weekend following injuries and will be pushing for a start. It will be intriguing to see whether Dean Smith's experimentation with a 3-5-2 was a long term plan to get Ings and Watkins in the side or to merely match up with Chelsea. It's a formation that won't get the best out of the impressive wide options at his disposal, with Leon Bailey still waiting for a first start of the season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined for the Toffees so we could see an unchanged lineup from last week. James Rodriguez is training with the rest of the team but his involvement is still very much in doubt. Salomon Rondon will be pushing for a first start but for the time being Richarlison is likely to lead the line.
After a relatively torrid run of results against Everton, Aston Villa are now unbeaten in four against the Toffees and know that a result here is important if they are to avoid slipping towards the relegation zone. Everton have made an unbeaten start under Rafa Benitez and while their summer window was largely scoffed at, Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray have both proven to be extremely shrewd signings so far. The hosts have something close to their strongest squad available for the first time and will hope that home advantage proves decisive, but a share of the spoils looks likely. 2:2
After a relatively torrid run of results against Everton, Aston Villa are now unbeaten in four against the Toffees and know that a result here is important if they are to avoid slipping towards the relegation zone. Everton have made an unbeaten start under Rafa Benitez and while their summer window was largely scoffed at, Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray have both proven to be extremely shrewd signings so far. The hosts have something close to their strongest squad available for the first time and will hope that home advantage proves decisive, but a share of the spoils looks likely. 2:2
Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia will both be available for selection but haven't trained with the group so while the former should return in goal, the latter may have to make do with a place on the bench. Morgan Sanson and Bertrand Traore both returned to the squad last weekend following injuries and will be pushing for a start. It will be intriguing to see whether Dean Smith's experimentation with a 3-5-2 was a long term plan to get Ings and Watkins in the side or to merely match up with Chelsea. It's a formation that won't get the best out of the impressive wide options at his disposal, with Leon Bailey still waiting for a first start of the season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined for the Toffees so we could see an unchanged lineup from last week. James Rodriguez is training with the rest of the team but his involvement is still very much in doubt. Salomon Rondon will be pushing for a first start but for the time being Richarlison is likely to lead the line.