Thierno Barry on target as Everton dent Aston Villa’s Premier League title hopes

Aston Villa’s Premier League title ambitions suffered a damaging blow as an 11-game home winning streak ended with a 1-0 defeat to Everton.

Villa could have cut the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points with victory at fortress Villa Park but they were undone by Thierno Barry’s second-half strike.

Barry’s 59th-minute winner came courtesy of a defensive howler by Pau Torres, a goalkeeping error by Emiliano Martinez and hands further initiative to the Gunners in the title race.

A frustrating afternoon highlighted how Villa are perhaps not serious title challengers given the fragile state of their squad and they will need some reinforcements in the coming weeks if they want to remain in the hunt.

Everton became the first team to win at Villa Park since August and they are just four points behind city rivals Liverpool – who currently occupy fourth position – and are also in contention for European contention.

David Moyes will be relieved his side were able to get the job done after they had a goal controversially ruled out in the first half after Harrison Armstrong was deemed to have been interfering from an offside position after Jake O’Brien had headed in.

They had needed just 11 seconds to prove they were not going to roll over as they almost scored straight from kick-off.

Jordan Pickford’s long ball was flicked on by Barry into the path of Merlin Rohl and his bundled effort hit the inside of the post and landed in the arms of a grateful Martinez.

EVERTONNNNNNN!!! ✊ pic.twitter.com/Kki0QxLz9M

— Everton (@Everton) January 18, 2026

Villa breathed a sigh of relief and kicked into gear. They should have been ahead in the fifth minute as Emiliano Buendia broke clear and ignored the obvious pass to Ollie Watkins, instead