Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 2.
Aston Villa v Everton
Aston Villa’s defensive structure needs to tighten up significantly following their 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United on the opening weekend.
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Unai Emery’s tactical approach demands that his Villa players congest space with a high line, and press with numbers inside a packed middle third.
At St James’ Park the midfield was unusually sluggish, with each member of the unit losing their individual battles.
Their midfield quartet regularly failed to get tight enough to their opposite numbers, allowing Newcastle to play through them with ease.
This exposed Emery’s back four, who struggled to cope with runners from deep that burst into the space behind them.
All three of the second-half goals scored against them could be explained by poor midfield decision-making, and the vulnerability of a rearguard that had pushed up.
In the build-up to Alexander Isak’s 58th-minute goal, Douglas Luiz went to press Bruno Guimaraes but was too slow getting there, allowing the Magpies star to skip around him. From there, Anthony Gordon had space to release Isak into the box.
For Newcastle’s fourth goal, Newcastle's midfield trio of Joelinton, Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali played a clever triangle around Villa’s midfield, before slipping the ball to Harvey Barnes, who ran in behind a high line to square it for Callum Wilson.
The fifth and final strike came after Douglas Luiz went to press Tonali deep inside his own half, but the Italian skipped around him to open up the pitch. From there Jacob Murphy travelled with the ball past an advanced Pau Torres before threading a lovely pass into space for Barnes to run onto and convert.
If Emery’s men are to continue with this tactical style of play, their central midfield must provide far better protection.
At home to Everton this weekend the two deep-lying players, Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara, need to play closer together and avoid diving in or committing themselves.
If they fail to learn those lessons the Toffees will slide too many passes beyond the back four, just as Newcastle did.
Time for Tielemans?
Emery made a bold selection by naming forward Leon Bailey as one of his inverted wide midfielders against Newcastle.
Perhaps feeling that his box-shaped midfield was not secure enough without the ball, he replaced Bailey with Youri Tielemans at half-time, introducing the Belgian for his Villa debut.
Tielemans may start this weekend, with John McGinn performing the same role on the other side.
Tielemans was not at his best for Leicester City last season, yet he still provided more creativity than his new team-mates, as his stats per 90 minutes show from 2022/23.
Tielemans' creativity v Villa midfielders 22/23*
| Succ. passes into final third | Through-balls | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tielemans | 12.26 | Tielemans | 0.46 |
| Douglas Luiz | 9.85 | McGinn | 0.37 |
| McGinn | 8.78 | Douglas Luiz | 0.18 |
| Kamara | 6.68 | Kamara | 0.10 |
| Succ. passes in opp. half | Open-play chances created | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tielemans | 25.93 | Tielemans | 1.00 |
| Douglas Luiz | 21.03 | Douglas Luiz | 0.80 |
| McGinn | 17.00 | McGinn | 0.40 |
| Kamara | 16.49 | Kamara | 0.35 |
*per 90 mins
The pace of Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins, coupled with their intelligent movement, should lead to Villa’s midfield having willing runners to find.
Tielemans certainly has the skillset and eye for a pass to unlock the very best from the pacy pair against Everton.
Also in this series
Part 1: Eze and Saka can determine London derby outcome
Part 3: Maddison and Bissouma's energy will be key to beat Man Utd
Part 4: How Chilwell and Jackson typify spirit of Pochettino's Chelsea