EVERTON must treat this game as their cup final.

There have been signs since the Fiorentina defeat in the UEFA Cup of the team being tired, mentally as much as physically, but this is a match they cannot afford to lose.

Defence

Scott Carson has been on a season-long loan from Liverpool, but Villa manager Martin O’Neill has yet to reveal whether he will make the deal permanent.

A calm, assured and agile goalkeeper, the England international has had another solid season.

Olof Mellberg has shown so much consistent quality that he has earned a move to Juventus at the end of the season. Quick, good in the air and strong in the tackle. Martin Laursen has been the pick of the Villa defenders. Signed for £3million from AC Milan, he is totally committed and an aggressive tackler. He is good in the air which means he can be a threat in the opposition box, as shown by his six goals. Wilfred Bouma has four Dutch titles with PSV and cost £3.5m in 2005. He can play at centre-half, but has established himself at left-back where he will compete for every ball and support Ashley Young down the left.

Midfield

Gabriel Agbonlahor came through the Villa Academy ranks and scored on his full debut against Everton in 2006.

Will raid down one flank, with Young on the other and John Carew down the middle.

It is an adventurous formation, but given Villa’s defensive solidity it is one where they can use the team’s pace and direct running which means they can hit teams as quickly as anyone in the Premier League on the break. Being at Goodison will suit their game. They can soak up the home team’s pressure and then catch them on the counter-attack.

Agbonlahor was good last season, but has been even better this time round. He has plenty of pace and uses it well to unsettle defenders. Has weighed in with 10 goals.

Stiliyan Petrov was a £6.5m signing from Celtic and quickly showed why. Has rediscovered that kind of form. The Bulgarian international is an excellent passer of the ball and scores important goals from midfield.

Nigel Reo-Coker provides the energy in midfield. The former West Ham player, who cost £7.5m, will drive his side forward and is a good box-to-box operator and very competitive.

Young is a product of the Watford Academy and there were a few raised eyebrows when Villa paid £9.6m for his services. But his ability to run at defenders and beat them on the inside or out has shown why he was worth the money. Delivers good crosses and free-kicks.

Attack

John Carew has plenty of experience with Valencia, Roma and Lyon. His height, pace and power can cause plenty of problems for defenders.

He is good at holding the ball up and creating space for players around him. Villa’s leading scorer with 12.

Marlon Harewood had a good goal-scoring record at Nottingham Forest and West Ham. A powerful player he has scored six times from his three starts and 18 appearances from the bench.

Dangerman

JOHN CAREW – in tremendous form and can create goals as well as score them as he showed with his double in the derby drubbing of Birmingham.

Overall verdict

Villa arrive at Goodison Park as the form team with 15 goals to just one against in their last three games. Have height, pace and power running through the team.

In contrast Everton are struggling for form but must play at a higher tempo than we have seen in recent weeks if they are to get anything from a game they must not lose.

Ronny Goodlass was talking to RICHARD WILLIAMSON