Aston Villa vs. Everton: Premier League Game of the Weekend

It's fair to say that both Aston Villa and Everton, two of the challengers to the Top Four monopoly, have endured a rather lacklustre start to the season.

Everton only have one point from their opening two games after the usually reliable Tim Howard gifted the Blackburn Rovers a 1-0 win on the opening weekend before the Wolves came to Goodison Park and left with an unexpected and unwelcome point.

Aston Villa on the other hand, started their season in emphatic style, easing past West Ham in a match at Villa Park where they could've easily scored six or seven.

But then of course it all went downhill for the Villans, losing even more emphatically against Newcastle United, where Chris Hughton's men brushed aside Villa 6-0.

And to rub salt in the Aston Villa wounds, the West Midlands outfit were dumped out of the UEFA Europa League after an acrimonious 3-2 defeat at the hands of Rapid Vienna. It was a case of Goodnight Vienna for Villa as caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald again struggled to find that winning formula.

After poor starts for both sides, the game at Villa this Sunday represents a must-win for Villa and Everton, as both will undoubtedly have pencilled in this match as the game they're going to win to get their season back on track.

Of course, both teams can't win the match, but the all-out attack attitude both will inevitably employ as they look to claim that vital, morale boosting win means for the neutral spectator, this could well be one hell of a game!

Aston Villa look as if they could welcome back strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew into the fold, as both look as if they've shaken off calf and knee troubles respectively, whilst key centre-back Richard Dunne should be fit despite a back problem.

LB Stephen Warnock and LW Stewart Downing should also return for Villa after being rested, meaning Kevin MacDonald should be able to play his best starting eleven for the Everton encounter.

As for Everton, they too have little injury concerns, as only striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu will miss out with a calf injury.

Therefore, both teams look likely to field all their star players in a crunch clash where the pressure will be on both sides to perform.

Tactically, Aston Villa could return to their tried-and-tested 4-4-2 formation with Agbonlahor in support of Carew up top, and new signing Stephen Ireland returning to the full playmaker role ahead of holding midfield partner and team captain Stiliyan Petrov.

For the Toffees, a similar set-up could be adopted as Tim Cahill supports Jermaine Beckford up front, with Mikel Arteta pulling the strings from midfield, covered by his defensive partner in the centre, Phil Neville.

Both teams have similar firepower up front and in midfield, but you'd have to give Aston Villa the advantage in defence, meaning this game could well be about which defence holds out the best.

Jermaine Beckford will no doubt be fired up as he tries to reward the faith manager David Moyes put in him by signing the 26 year old from Leeds United during the summer, and he could well come exploding out of the blocks come kick-off time at Villa Park this Sunday.

And with confidence running through Everton following their crushing 5-1 annihilation of Port Vale in the League Cup on Wednesday, this team look set to head to Villa Park with full belief that they can break down Aston Villa and take something from the game.

In terms of Aston Villa's psychology, the players will no doubt be looking to right the wrongs of their past two matches and finally get back to winning again as they look to boost their self esteem and prove that Villa are indeed able to challenge the upper echelons of the Premier League yet again.

Expect an enthralling, end-to-end match in the 4 p.m. kickoff at Villa Park this Sunday, with strong tackles, commitment, and an unflinching desire to win all part of the game.

It's Aston Villa against Everton, and it's the Premier League game of the weekend.

Prediction: Aston Villa 3-3 Everton

Fact: Since 1987, Everton have only won once at Villa Park.