January 19, (THEWILL) — Everton claimed their first English Premier League victory over Aston Villa since March 2016 with a 1-0 win at Villa Park, inflicting the hosts’ first home defeat since August 2025.
Thierno Barry’s second-half strike proved decisive in a match that saw David Moyes claim his first personal league victory over Unai Emery.
The visitors nearly stunned Villa within 11 seconds when Merlin Rohl struck the post following Barry’s layoff, the earliest woodwork strike in EPL records.
Jake O’Brien thought he had given Everton the lead after half an hour, only for the goal to be ruled out due to Harrison Armstrong’s offside position interfering with play.
Villa responded with chances through Morgan Rogers and Evann Guessand, who also hit the crossbar.
Barry broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, chipping over Emiliano Martínez after the goalkeeper could only parry Dwight McNeil’s initial effort.
Villa pressed for an equaliser, with Rogers coming closest when Jordan Pickford produced a flying save to deny his curling attempt towards the top corner.
The defeat proved costly for Villa, who failed to capitalise on Arsenal and Manchester City dropping points on Saturday.
The result leaves them vulnerable in the race for a top-four finish, having won just once in their last four league matches.
Everton’s triumph extended their impressive away form to four victories in six league matches and lifted them into the top half of the table.
The Toffees had been winless against Villa in league action since the Birmingham club’s return to the Premier League in 2019, making Saturday’s result particularly significant for Moyes’ side.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
