Everton have just been handed Grealish boost as Moyes faces three questions
Our Everton jury are back to have their say ahead of the Premier League game against Aston Villa
AUGUST 30: Jack Grealish of Everton celebrates during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton at Molineux on August 30, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England.
Jack Grealish of Everton celebrates during the Premier League match at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Everton return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Blues headed into the international break on the back of a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That victory at Molineux came after the Blues booked their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup and beat Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues currently find themselves fifth in the league table.
And ahead of this weekend’s game against Unai Emery’s side, our Everton jury have returned to have their say.
Paul McParlan – Back to business
In recent seasons, the international break arrived at the right time for Evertonians, after the Blues had failed to win any of their opening fixtures.
However, on this occasion, we could have done without it, with the Blues on a winning run and a new sense of positivity surrounding the club.
It would have suited us far better to keep the momentum going and keep on playing, especially with the side in a top five spot and the strongest squad that we have assembled for years.
I was really pleased that Jack Grealish wasn’t selected for the England squad. The thought of one of our best players being taken out by an Andorran hatchet man trying to make a name for himself would have filled me with dread.
I am always relieved when these fixtures are over and none of our squad has come home with a serious injury, although Vitalii Mykolenko may struggle to be fit for Saturday.
It was good to see that Thomas Tuchel clearly sees Jordan Pickford as the number one choice for England, which merely confirms what we Blues have known for years, that he is the best keeper around.
Maybe, one day, the media who have pushed the claims of Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope and Dean Henderson over the years will finally give Pickford the praise he deserves!
I always look forward to our matches against Aston Villa, who were founder members of the Football League with us in 1888.
Our meeting is considered to be the most played fixture in English football. It is also a reminder that we were playing top-flight football before any other team in this city.
We have struggled against Villa recently; we have not won any of our last 12 league games against them and have failed to record a home victory since 2015.
However, they are struggling this season and have not won any of their three opening fixtures.It is the perfect opportunity for Jack Grealish to get one over on his old club and keep Everton challenging for a European place.
The manager will have some decisions to make regarding the starting eleven. Will James Garner fill in again at left back if Mykolenko is injured, or will Adam Aznou be given a chance? Will Beto start over Thierno Barry? Is there the possibility that Merlin Rohl could make his debut?
Either way, we now have plenty of alternatives on the bench with Tyler Dibling, Dwight McNeil and Charly Alcaraz all vying for a place.
Everton will be hoping to restart the league campaign with another three points on Saturday and keep our unbeaten record at the Hill Dickinson Stadium going.
The international break is over; it is back to business on Saturday, and it is time to kick on with another win to spring into autumn with summer optimism still in the air.
Long may it continue!
James Kellett – ‘Beat Villa and we go top’
For once Evertonians are craving to see the return of their side following the international break.
Dynamic football, exciting new signings and a state-of-the-art stadium are just some of the reasons why there is such a buzz around the club at this moment.
Saturday sees David Moyes’ side face an out-of-form Aston Villa – a team the Toffees haven’t defeated in the league since 2016.
With the possibility of finishing a match day at the summit of the Premier League table, there are some who are drawing comparisons to a result in 2019 that has sat in Everton folklore ever since.
The match in question was the Blues’ 2-0 defeat at Villa Park, on a night that started with much promise and ended on a sour note.
The result seemed to trigger a poor run of form that eventually led to the sacking of Marco Silva, but additional factors such as injuries and dodgy VAR decisions can also be blamed for the dismissal.
Comparing this result to the game on Saturday does contain an eerie undertone, but it is crucial to forget about the similarities and
