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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Matthew Holt

Neil Warnock explains why he is 'impressed' with Everton but makes big Aston Villa claim

Former Premier League manager Neil Warnock has insisted Everton's clash with Aston Villa this weekend is of huge importance for both sides.

Frank Lampard's men suffered opening day defeat against Chelsea, with Jorginho's first half penalty proving the only difference between the two teams.

With new signings Conor Coady and Amadou Onana both in line to make potential debuts at Villa Park, Warnock insisted he enjoyed parts of the Blues performance at Goodison Park.

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Warnock told talkSPORT : "I was quite impressed with Everton at the weekend and I had feared the worst and I didn’t think that they deserved it. I thought the penalty could have been avoided early on in that move.

"I was pleased with them, they’ve got three wide men playing up front, they played with a structure.

"The only thing about that is that when you play well and lose, when you come up against a Villa and lose then it’s another ball game, it kills you and your confidence.

"I think that it’s an important game for both clubs.''

Steven Gerrard's side also lost their opening game of the new season, falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Bournemouth. Keen to make amends, both the Blues and Villa will be bidding to kickstart their respective campaigns with victory on Saturday.

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