Toffees fans are ‘laughing’ as Emery gets more power

Chris Sutton has called Everton fans’ pressure on Sean Dyche ‘ridiculous’, but admits the manager ‘needs’ a result.

The Toffees have made a poor start to the 2024/25 Premier League season – their last at Goodison Park – losing all three of their games so far.

Things came to a head in the final game before the international break, with Everton going down 3-2 at home to Bournemouth despite leading 2-0 in the 86th minute.

Unsurprisingly, the sacking was met with an angry reaction from Evertonians, with many online even calling for Dyche to be sacked.

Sutton believes that is an ‘absurd’ view to take, as Dyche did enough to guide Everton to 12th place last season if they were to drop eight points.

However, the former Blackburn Rovers striker admits things need to improve for the Toffees soon, but he doesn’t see that happening this weekend at Aston Villa.

“Everton coach Sean Dyche is under the pump after playing against Bournemouth last week. “It feels like some of their fans have turned on Dyche now, which I think is ridiculous, but he needs a result and unfortunately for him, Villa Park is not a place where I see Everton getting anything,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“The Toffees were thrashed 4-0 last season and, although they will fight, they will not get a result this time either.

“How many goals Villa get may depend on whether Ollie Watkins is fit. He’s in my Fantasy squad, which is bad news for him anyway, but he’s an injury doubt after being left out of the England squad.”

Ollie Watkins will return for Aston Villa’s clash with Everton

As for Watkins, Villa have been given a boost – and Everton have suffered – with Unai Emery confirming he and Ezri Konsa will be fit to play this weekend.

“He’s getting better and better and he’s in the team and he’s in the team [the] I think he’ll be there to play tomorrow,” Emery said of Watkins.

Regarding Konsa, who limped off during England’s 2-0 Nations League win over Finland in midweek, he added: “Yes. The players come back after playing with their national teams, they are in the team. We don’t have any major problems behind it.”