Ollie Watkins' brilliant 51st-minute finish sealed Everton's defeat on David Moyes' return for his second spell as manager at Goodison Park.
England striker Watkins received Morgan Rogers' penetrating pass and drilled home a powerful strike to beat the advancing Jordan Pickford as Villa claimed a third successive win in all competitions.
The Villains rose above Bournemouth to seventh place – Equal on points with Manchester City – It ensured that Everton remained one point above the relegation zone after their third consecutive loss in the league without scoring any goals.
Great play from Morgan Rogers finds Ollie Watkins breaking the deadlock for Goodison! 🔥
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Moyes makes a losing comeback
Moise He made Everton a regular European contender during his 11 years at the club before leaving in 2013, and they produced a respectable display against Champions League rivals when the Scot took charge again.
The 61-year-old said he challenged Dominic Calvert-Lewin to immediately add to his two-goal total this season, with the former England striker coming closest, although Villa comfortably cleared his effort off the goal line.
Everton applied late pressure with a series of balls into the penalty area, but their lack of sophisticated ability was no surprise to Moyes or anyone who has seen him take risks again this season.
Ipswich Town could move above Everton when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. Moyes publicly backed his players to steer clear of the relegation battle in his first press conference, and their fate looks likely to depend on whether he can score more goals from a group that have now failed to score in five of their last six league games.
They host two defensively weak opponents next, hosting mid-table Tottenham on Sunday (2pm GMT) before heading to Brighton on January 25 (3pm).
“I hate to say it, I don't think we were at our best this season.”
Morgan Rogers says Villa are back to their best after their first away win in five games 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ma1SgwOLbq
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Villa wins away in the end
Playing away from home for the first time since their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 26, it was reasonable for Villa – as Watkins said afterwards – to view their task as a difficult one against a potentially rejuvenated Everton.
Two home wins in six days this month have been a contrast to their form on the road, including five successive league defeats by a combined score of 14-2.
Perhaps this result was just the confidence boost Unai Emery's side needed before traveling to Arsenal on Saturday (5.30pm), where they won 2-0 in April, and Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday (5.45pm).
