Everton and Aston Villa meet at Goodison Park on Saturday in English football's most-played top-flight fixture.

It will be the 196th time the two clubs have played each other in league competition, with the Toffees winning the most recent encounter at Villa Park in August.

Paul Lambert's men have not won since last time they were on Merseyside to play Liverpool, a run which stretches seven Premier League games.

In that time, they have also dumped out of the Capital One Cup over two legs by Bradford City.

Marc Albrighton, Richard Dunne, Chris Herd and Gary Gardner are all out injured, while Karim El Ahmadi is on international duty with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Injuries to Tony Hibbert and Seamus Coleman may force David Moyes into picking Phil Jagielka at right-back, although the Irish defender may recover in time.

Nikica Jelavic was dropped for the mid-week clash with West Bromwich Albion after suffering from a dry spell in front of goal, but may return in place of Victor Anichebe.

Darron Gibson came on as a substitute in that match and is likely to start in midfield for the Blues.

Recent form

Everton: WLWDDW

Villa: LLDLDL

Possible lineups

Everton: Howard; Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, Mirallas; Fellaini; Jelavic

Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Bennett; Holman, Bannan, Ireland; Agbonlahor; Benteke

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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