Aston Villa team news as Unai Emery makes FOUR changes v Everton

Aston Villa have named their starting eleven and substitutes for their Premier League fixture against Everton.

Villa boss Unai Emery has made four changes to the starting eleven at Everton this afternoon including surprise starts for Lamare Bogarde in midfield and Emi Buendía behind striker Ollie Watkins.

Emery’s players are desperate to kickstart their 2025/26 today having drawn one and lost two of their three fixtures so far. They’re the only team in England’s top four divisions and indeed many more to have not yet scored a goal.

There are some unexpected selections in this team to say the very least but not including the new signings does have the effect of making the bench look a bit stronger than it has so far this season.

Is Emery taking too negative an approach? Over-thinking the challenge posed by the opposition? Missing a trick by not bringing new attacking players into the eleven?

We’ll soon find out.

Martínez straight back in

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was left out of the team in the previous Premier League match against Crystal Palace and reportedly spent the next day waiting to move to Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Emery’s first choice has immediately returned to the starting line-up and replaces Marco Bizot against Everton this afternoon.

New signings Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelöf have all been named on the bench but the goalkeeper is still just one of four changes after the atrocious performance at Villa Park two weeks ago.

Lucas Digne comes back in for Ian Maatsen at left-back. Bogarde’s inclusion in place of Donyell Malen presumably allows John McGinn to move back to the right, where he’s struggled this season.

Buendía comes in for Evann Guessand, the player he replaced at half time against Palace. He was among Villa’s better players that night but few predicted a start today.

Villa’s full line-up v Everton

Starting XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendía, Rogers, Watkins

Substitutes: Bizot, Proctor, Maatsen, Elliott, Lindelöf, Sancho, Torres, Malen, Guessand

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