FA Cup 5th Round 15/02

EPL quick picks. Due to time constraints, FULL round analysis will not be available.


Everton v Aston Villa

Verdict: Alot of water has passed under the bridge, if I can use that analogy, since these two teams last met in a 5 goal thriller. On that occasion, Aston Villa snatched a 3-2 win at Goodison Park despite been outplayed for large parts of the game. Since then, both teams have achieved very good results and have tasted defeat only once, Everton to Manchester United (0-1) and Aston Villa to Hamburg (1-3) respectively. Both teams have high moral going into this game but there are a few things that fall in favour of Everton.

*Everton is hellbent in exacting revenge for that 3-2 defeat back on December 7.
*Everton is performing much better now than what they were since their last meeting with Villa.
*Everton have ressurected their home form with 4 wins and 2 draws in their last 6.

In addition, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill, has suggested the importance of the Premier League. With a UEFA Cup fixture on Wednesday and huge clash with Chelsea next weekend, it would not come as a surprise if O'Neill 'sacrificed' the FA Cup to give his squad a breather. Everton are more than capable of beating anyone at Goodison Park and with Villa missing the influential Barry through suspension and possibly Heskey through injury, Everton are a good chance to exact revenge here.

Everton
IN: Saha, Anichebe
OUT: Fellaini, Pienaar, Yakubu

Aston Villa
IN:
OUT: Barry, Young, Cuellar, Heskey (doubtful), Laursen

Picks:

Everton DNB @ 1.75 (8 units)
Everton @ 2.48 (4 units)
Everton 3 - 1 Aston Villa