Moyes returns to Goodison Park as Everton host Aston Villa
David Moyes will make his return to the home dugout at Goodison Park 12 years after leaving the club when Everton host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The former Toffees’ manager was appointed as Sean Dyche‘s replacement over the weekend for a second spell in charge, and his first task will be to end the club’s dismal recent run against Villa.
Last Thursday represented one of the strangest days in Everton’s history, and there has been plenty of competition for that in recent years.
With the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone, Dyche was sacked five days after their 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Dyche leaves Everton with a record of 26 wins in 84 games, not helped by the fact he won just one of his last 11 in charge – the 4-0 thrashing of Wolves at the start of December.
That means that Moyes returns, 11-and-a-half years after his exit, and his first task will be to end Everton’s abysmal record against Aston Villa, opponents they have failed to beat since 2016, losing eight of the last 11 in the league.
Manager Unai Emery will also be looking to avoid making unwanted history though, because another defeat will see them extend their longest losing run on the road since their woeful relegation in 2015-16.
Despite that though, Villa are still in the top-four hunt, sitting just four points off a faltering Chelsea, and two behind an unconvincing Manchester City.
Emery may just be willing to end their losing away run in any way possible in a game that will be tough to prepare for, and even though they have more quality in their ranks, this could be close and cagey.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Leicester welcome Crystal Palace to the King Power Stadium
Two sides competing near the bottom of the Premier League table meet at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday, when Leicester City host Crystal Palace.
Both clubs saw off lower-league opposition in the FA Cup third round over the weekend and could do with winning again to move away from relegation trouble.
After losing five Premier League games in a row, Leicester put on an impressive performance in their emphatic 6-2 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy had not enjoyed a win since his first game in charge at the start of December.
Unwanted history awaits too if they are unable to arrest that run, because Leicester have not lost six in a row while conceding at least twice in them all since 2001, and they are currently on the joint-worst run of clean sheets in Premier League history, with just two in their previous 43 outings.
Palace are only a few points further ahead, and continuing their fine home form against the Eagles could see that gap shortened, with Leicester unbeaten in four at home to their next opponents – winning three.
Facing Leicester represents a great opportunity for three points. Palace are unbeaten in five games away from home in the league, but only two of those have ended in victory, and another close encounter could be on the cards here.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Newcastle host Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park
Eddie Howe‘s red-hot Newcastle United side are out to record their ninth straight win in all competitions when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.
Both teams eliminated lower-league opposition from the FA Cup over the weekend, as the Magpies survived a scare to sink Bromley, while Vitor Pereira‘s men conquered Bristol City away from home.
Taking two significant steps towards ending a trophy drought stretching back almost 70 full years, Newcastle have one foot firmly in the EFL Cup final and will enjoy an FA Cup fourth-round date with Birmingham City next month thanks to their exertions over the past week.
As well as pursuing their first major trophy since 1955 – unless the 2006 Intertoto Cup is counted as a significant piece of silverware – the marvellous Magpies have entered the top-four conversation in the Premier League thanks to five straight successes in the top flight.
Newcastle’s penchant for multiple-goal showings gives rise to an enthralling affair against Wolves, who hold the honour of being the Premier League’s most entertaining team in 2024-25 statistically.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur in mouthwatering North London derby
Still the only team with their unbeaten Premier League home record intact this season, Arsenal are on a mission to right their recent knockout wrongs in Wednesday’s mouthwatering North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.
While the Gunners’ FA Cup run ended at the hands of holders Manchester United at the weekend, Ange Postecoglou‘s men put three past Tamworth without reply, albeit only after being taken to an additional 30 minutes.
The walls of the Emirates have fallen down if Arsenal’s last two home horror shows are anything to go by, as Mikel Arteta‘s troops have already ceded their hopes of FA Cup glory and will surely do the same in the EFL Cup after a pair of alarmingly toothless attacking displays.
Five days on from their gut-wrenching home loss to Newcastle United in the latter competition – where they were taught a harsh lesson in attacking ruthlessness – Arsenal were left to lament another pitiful performance in front of goal against 10-man Man United, who defied the odds to keep their FA Cup title defence going.
However, the defiant Arteta has publicly backed his existing players to dig themselves out of their hole as they endeavour to avoid losing three games in a row for the first time since January 2024; defeat in the derby could see them sit nine points below Liverpool having played a game more depending on how the Reds fare at Nottingham Forest.
The eagerly-anticipated North London derby seldom fails to deliver on the ferocity front, but as both sets of players completed two-hour FA Cup marathons after their EFL Cup exertions, this one may not be a classic quality-wise.
Arsenal are hardly firing on all cylinders up front either, but the Gunners are never short of chances to put the ball in the back of the net, and they may just need to take one of them on Wednesday to complete a morale-boosting derby double.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
