Key Takeaways:
- Aston Villa’s streak of 11 consecutive home victories across all competitions ended last night following a 1-0 defeat to Everton
- Thierno Barry scored the decisive goal for the visitors in the 59th minute, capitalising on defensive errors
- Everton’s win moves them to tenth, four points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool, while Villa missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal
Match Overview and Opening Exchanges
Everton brought Aston Villa’s impressive 11-match home winning streak to a close with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph at Villa Park. Thierno Barry’s strike in the 59th minute proved the difference as David Moyes’ side demonstrated poise and discipline to secure all three points. The Toffees made a rapid start, nearly scoring after just 11 seconds when Barry teed up Röhl for a shot that rattled Martinez’s right post.
Aston Villa quickly found their rhythm following a nervy opening. Morgan Rogers fired over the crossbar from a promising position before making a promising incursion into the area, only to hesitate and squander the chance. The home side applied growing pressure but suffered an early blow when captain John McGinn was forced off through injury after just 18 minutes, disrupting Villa’s shape and momentum.
FT. YESSSSSS!!! Another away win for the Toffees!!! 💙
[0-1] #AVLEVE pic.twitter.com/bS5wIT8sUc
— Everton (@Everton) January 18, 2026
First Half: Near Misses and Disallowed Goals
Everton nearly capitalised on their positive start in the 22nd minute as Grealish unleashed a volley following a corner, but it was blocked by a Villa defender. The visitors thought they had taken the lead after half an hour when Jake O’Brien met the subsequent corner with a header, only to see the effort ruled out for offside – Armstrong was deemed to have interfered with play.
Villa responded in kind, with Morgan Rogers remaining a consistent threat. In the 36th minute, after a marauding run from Maatsen, Rogers’ drive was blocked, and his follow-up shot soon after forced Pickford into action. Evann Guessand then headed against the crossbar in the 41st minute, catching Pickford off guard, but the ball rebounded out and the score remained level at the break.
| Statistic | Aston Villa | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 0 | 1 |
| Woodwork Hits (First Half) | 2 (Rogers, Guessand) | 1 (Röhl) |
| Disallowed Goals | 0 | 1 (O’Brien, offside) |
Barry’s Winner and Villa’s Frustration
The intensity dipped after the interval, with clear chances at a premium. Tielemans failed to direct a header on target for Villa, and the hosts appeared short of attacking ideas. The decisive moment came in the 59th minute: Pau Torres failed to control a pass from Konsa, allowing McNeil to pounce. His effort was saved by Martinez but rebounded kindly to Barry, who deftly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to hand Everton the lead.
Aston Villa pressed for an equaliser, with Rogers continuing to test the Everton defence. He squandered a pair of promising opportunities in the penalty area, the second attempt flying well over the crossbar, before drawing a top-class save from Pickford with a powerful strike. As Villa intensified their attacks late on, Everton’s rearguard stayed resolute to repel wave after wave of pressure. In added time, a final chance fell to Buendía, whose header failed to hit the target, sealing Villa’s first home defeat after 11 consecutive wins.
Implications for the Table
Unai Emery’s side missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just four points, instead remaining seven adrift. Everton, meanwhile, climbed to tenth position – now just four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool – adding further intrigue to the battle for European places.
