Everton Vs Aston Villa Player Ratings: James Garner 8.5/10 Rated as A Tense Stalemate Ends in Goalless Draw 0-0

A fiercely contested Premier League battle at Goodison Park ended in a frustrating goalless draw between Everton and Aston Villa. Both sides cancelled each other out in a game that was more about defensive grit than attacking flair. From our perspective, it was a tale of missed opportunities, especially for the home side. Everton will undoubtedly feel they should have taken all three points from this match. They registered twenty shots to Villa's nine but just couldn't find the killer touch in the final third. The home crowd roared them on, but a combination of wasteful finishing and heroic defending from the visitors kept the score level. It was one of those days when the ball just wouldn't go in.

What stood out to us was the sheer resilience of the Aston Villa backline, who threw bodies in front of everything. The game was a physical affair, with numerous fouls and yellow cards breaking up the play. Ultimately, Unai Emery's side will be far happier with the point, having weathered the storm to secure a valuable result on the road. Here are the Everton vs Aston Villa player ratings.

Everton Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Here are the Everton player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 6.5: Had a very quiet afternoon between the sticks. He was only called upon to make one save throughout the entire game. His distribution felt a bit rushed at times, reflected in a 55% pass accuracy. We noticed he claimed one high ball with confidence. Overall a spectator for large parts of the match.

Defenders

Michael Keane - 6.5: A really mixed performance from the defender. He was involved in some key moments at both ends of the pitch. Defensively he was mostly solid but it was his attacking threat from set-pieces that caught the eye. Frustratingly, he missed two big chances and hit the woodwork once. He should have been the match-winner for Everton today.

James Tarkowski - 8.0: A captain's performance and a rock at the back. He was immense, winning an impressive 10 duels and making 5 crucial clearances. He even created a chance going forward. What stood out to us was his leadership and organization of the defense. A dominant and commanding display from the centre-back.

Jake O'Brien - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance from the defender. He did his job well without any fuss. He contributed a key pass and was composed on the ball. While he lost a few aerial duels, he never looked truly troubled. A decent outing for him.

James Garner - 8.5: Our highest-rated player on the pitch, and by some distance. He was simply outstanding and the source of almost all of Everton's creativity. He created four chances, including one big chance, and his delivery was superb. His energy was infectious, and he worked tirelessly for the team. An all-action performance that deserved a goal or an assist.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye - 7.0: A classic Idrissa Gueye performance. He was a disruptive force in midfield, making two tackles and two interceptions. He kept the ball moving with a 90% pass accuracy. He screened the back four effectively and did the dirty work that often goes unnoticed. A disciplined and effective display.

Iliman Ndiaye - 7.0: This guy was an absolute workhorse in the midfield. He won a staggering 10 duels and recovered the ball 10 times, constantly hassling the Villa players. His end product was slightly lacking, but his effort was undeniable. From our perspective, his relentless energy was key to Everton's dominance in the middle of the park.

Jack Grealish - 7.5: As always, he was Everton's main creative spark. He created five chances, a game-high. However, it was a frustrating day for him as he was often crowded out and lost possession 16 times. He drew fouls but also gave away a cheap yellow card for handball. He looked the most likely to unlock the Villa defence but it wasn't to be.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 6.5: He put in a real shift but struggled to make a decisive impact on the game. His crossing was particularly wayward, with only one of his six attempts finding a teammate. He worked hard off the ball but lacked quality on it. A booking for a rash challenge summed up his frustrating afternoon.

Tim Iroegbunam - 6.0: He had a steady but unspectacular 66 minutes. He was tidy in possession but failed to impose himself on the match. He picked up a yellow card just before being substituted. A fairly anonymous performance overall.

Forwards

Beto - 6.0: A tough evening for the powerful striker. He was a handful for the Villa defenders winning five aerial duels. However his finishing was not up to scratch, and he was caught offside twice. He battled hard but couldn't provide the cutting edge Everton needed.

Substitutes

Merlin Röhl - 6.5: Came on and injected some much-needed energy. He looked bright and had a shot from distance that went just over. Also created a chance for Barry. A positive contribution from the bench.

Thierno Barry - 6.0: Had one shot blocked in his brief cameo. He didn't have much time to make a real impact on the game.

Manager

D. Moyes - 6.5: He set his team up well, and they dominated the match for large periods. They created enough chances to win the game comfortably. However, his side's profligacy in front of goal cost them two points. Perhaps he could have been more proactive with his substitutions to find a winner.

Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Everton

Here are the Aston Villa player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 7.5: The Argentine was a key figure in securing a point for his team. He made two vital saves, including a sharp stop to deny a Michael Keane header. His command of his penalty area was excellent, and he was a calming presence for his defence. A very solid performance from the Villa keeper.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 6.0: Had a difficult time dealing with Jack Grealish. He was booked in the first half and struggled to contain the Everton winger. He tried to offer an outlet going forward but his defensive frailties were exposed. A challenging afternoon for the full-back.

Ezri Konsa - 7.0: A quiet but very effective performance from Konsa. He was incredibly composed in possession, boasting a 94% pass accuracy. He made several important clearances and interceptions without any fuss. A classy and understated defensive display.

Tyrone Mings - 8.0: An absolute colossus at the heart of the Villa defence. From our perspective, he was Villa's man of the match. He made an incredible nine clearances and blocked four shots. He put his body on the line time and time again to preserve the clean sheet. A truly heroic defensive performance.

Lucas Digne - 5.5: A day to forget for the French full-back. He was extremely wasteful in possession, losing the ball 22 times. His crossing was poor, and he was booked for a clumsy challenge. He looked off the pace and was a defensive liability at times. We were surprised he stayed on for the full 90 minutes.

Midfielders

John McGinn - 6.5: The captain put in his usual all-action display, but he struggled to influence the game in an attacking sense. He was tidy on the ball and worked tirelessly for his team. However he offered little creativity in the final third. A battling performance but lacked the quality to unlock the Everton defence.

Youri Tielemans - 6.0: The Belgian was substituted at half-time after a very quiet first half. He was neat and tidy in possession but failed to make any impact on the game. His substitution was not a surprise given his lack of influence. A disappointing showing.

Emiliano Buendia - 6.0: A typically busy but frustrating performance. He showed flashes of his quality but his decision-making let him down. He lost the ball frequently and picked up a silly yellow card. He was substituted in the second half after failing to make a real impact.

Lamare Bogarde - 7.0: A surprisingly mature performance from the young midfielder. He was strong in the tackle, winning eight of his eleven duels. He was composed on the ball and showed a good range of passing. Despite one error leading to a shot, it was an impressive and encouraging display.

Morgan Rogers - 5.0: The worst player on the pitch. He was completely anonymous for the entire game. He lost possession 18 times from just 39 touches and won only 11% of his duels. It was a performance devoid of any quality or impact. A really poor showing.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins - 6.0: The striker was completely isolated and starved of service. He had just 16 touches of the ball in 83 minutes. He worked hard and pressed from the front but had no opportunities to score. A thankless and frustrating afternoon for the England international.

Substitutes

Evann Guessand - 6.0: Came on at half-time but struggled to get into the game. He didn't offer much more than the man he replaced.

Harvey Elliott - 6.0: Showed a few neat touches but couldn't provide the creative spark Villa needed.

Donyell Malen - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to receive a rating.

Victor Lindelöf - N/A: Brought on late to help see out the draw.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 7.0: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to be solid and difficult to break down. They defended their lives and frustrated Everton. He will be delighted with a hard-earned point away from home. A tactical success for the Villa boss.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is James Garner