Everton secured a 1-0 win at Aston Villa's Villa Park on January 18, 2026, halting the hosts' 11-game home winning streak across all competitions. Thierno Barry's opportunistic second-half goal, following errors by Emiliano Martínez and Pau Torres, ended Villa's chances of climbing to second place, leaving them third and seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Everton rose to 10th under David Moyes.
In a Premier League clash at Villa Park kicking off at 4:30 p.m. UK time on January 18, 2026, Everton triumphed 1-0 over third-placed Aston Villa, who were seven points behind Arsenal (after their draw with Nottingham Forest) and eyeing second following Manchester City's loss to Manchester United. Everton, 12th entering the match, delivered the upset.
The first half was goalless but eventful. Everton nearly led within 10 seconds as Merlin Röhl's shot hit the post. Villa countered with Morgan Rogers missing high from Emiliano Buendía's pass and John McGinn going off injured amid pressure. Jack Grealish, returning to Villa Park, went close for Everton. A Jake O’Brien header was disallowed for Harrison Armstrong's offside. Villa had efforts blocked or saved by Jordan Pickford, while Evann Guessand looped a header onto the bar.
Villa started the second half brightly, Youri Tielemans heading wide, but in the 61st minute, disaster struck: Pau Torres lost possession, Dwight McNeil's shot was parried by Emiliano Martínez, and Barry chipped the rebound over the keeper and past Ezri Konsa for 1-0. Villa pushed back—Rogers spooned shots over, had a curling effort tipped onto the bar by Pickford, and Buendía headed wide late—but Everton's defense, led by James Tarkowski and O’Brien, held firm.
Unai Emery called it a 'missed opportunity' to Sky Sports: 'We lost a very good opportunity. We did a very good season until now, and today we lost.' To BBC Sport: 'We are not a contender to be in the top four like we are now. They [Everton] deserved to win.' Barry credited his alertness post-match and joked about man-of-the-match James Garner. This was Villa's second home loss of the season. Everton climbed into the top half, gaining momentum ahead of Africa Cup of Nations calls for players like Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye.
