Brentford will look to get back to winning ways when they host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Brentford have picked up just one win from five league matches, and they are coming into the game against Everton on the back of three winless performances. The home fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the players, and it remains to be seen whether Thomas Frank’s men can step up and grind out all three points against a struggling evidence side.
Meanwhile, the Toffees are currently 18th in the league table, and they have failed to win a single league game so far this season. Everton have lost four of their last five league matches, and the Merseyside outfit are under tremendous pressure heading into this game.
A win over Brentford would certainly lift the spirits and it remains to be seen whether Everton can pull off an upset. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
New week. New challenges.@EvertonAcademy 📆 pic.twitter.com/FGKFYLgXL9
— Everton (@Everton) September 18, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Brentford
The home side will be without Ivan Toney, who is suspended for breaching gambling regulations. Joshua Dasilva is ruled out with a thigh injury as well. The likes of Ben Mee, Kristoffer Ajer and Mikel Damsgaard are likely to be a part of the matchday squad, and they are close to returning to action. Meanwhile, Rico Henry is ruled out for the long term.
Brentford are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal. Mads Roerslev and Aaron Hickey are likely to be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out offensively and keep the defence compact.
Nathan Collins will start at the heart of the defence alongside Ethan Pinnock. Christian Norgaard should be the defensive midfielder here and he will look to break up the opposition attacks. Mathias Jensen and Vitaly Janelt will start on either side of him. Yoane Wissa is set to lead the line for Brentford here, with Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Hickey; Janelt, Norgaard, Jensen; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade
Everton
The Toffees are without Dele Alli, who is ruled out with a groin injury. Seamus Coleman is sidelined with a knee injury as well. Andre Gomes has a heel injury and he is expected to return next week. Jack Harrison is expected to be a part of the match-day squad despite picking up a groin injury.
Everton are likely to shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out in the attack and keep the defence compact. Jarrad Branthwaite will start in the central defence alongside James Tarkowski.
Arnaut Danjuma and Dwight McNeil will be the wingers here, and they will look to create counter-attacking opportunities and protect the full-backs. Amadou Onana will start in the heart of the midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye. The two players will look to break up the opposition attacks and win the ball back for their side. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for Everton alongside summer signing Beto.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Pickford; Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Danjuma, Gueye, Onana, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin, Beto
Key Stats
- Everton have failed to win their last five matches in the Premier League.
- Everton have conceded ten goals in their last six matches across all competitions.
- Brentford are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions.
- 16 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Brentford have conceded at least once in five of their last six outings.
Player to Watch
Bryan Mbeumo
The 24-year-old Cameroon international has scored four goals in five Premier League matches this season, and he is our key player to watch out for. He will help open up the Everton defence with his flair and link-up play. In the absence of Ivan Toney, Thomas Frank will need the 24-year-old to step up and help create goalscoring opportunities for his side.
Prediction
Brentford 2-1 Everton
The home side are likely to pile further misery on Everton this weekend. The Toffees are lacking in confidence and momentum right now. They are likely to fall short once again. Brentford are certainly the better team here, and they will be confident of grinding out a positive result at home. This is likely to be a close contest. But the home side have the tools to edge a 2-1 victory.