Everton squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 away at Aston Villa on Saturday, further intensifying the pressure on manager Sean Dyche. Villa, under Unai Emery, were searching for their first home win of the season as they push for a top-four finish.
Despite Everton’s efforts to hold onto their advantage, Villa’s Ollie Watkins equalised with 30 minutes left, before Jhon Duran’s stunning strike from distance sealed the win. The result leaves Dyche facing increased scrutiny as his side continues to struggle for consistency.
This defeat follows Everton’s dramatic 2-0 victory over Liverpool just days earlier, a result that appeared to relieve some of the mounting pressure on Dyche.
That famous win at Goodison Park, their first home triumph against their Merseyside rivals in 14 years, saw Jarrad Branthwaite open the scoring, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin adding a second after the break.
Liverpool, whose title hopes were effectively dashed by the loss, were thoroughly outplayed by a resurgent Everton. The win marked Everton’s third victory in four Premier League games, a turnaround that has seen some fans soften their stance on Dyche.
Earlier in the season, Dyche faced heavy criticism, particularly after a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Chelsea. The backlash on social media was fierce, with calls for his sacking growing louder.
However, despite speculation over Dyche’s future, with reports from Football Insider on 10 April suggesting new owners 777 Partners plan to replace him, many Everton fans now back the manager.
One supporter admitted they had eaten “humble pie” after the Liverpool victory, reflecting a shift in sentiment among sections of the Goodison faithful.