Everton will host Brentford at Goodison Park on Saturday, looking to continue with their impressive run of form.
Everton are coming into the game against Brentford on the back of a surprise 2-0 over Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby, and they will be the favourites to grind out all three points on Saturday.
The Toffees have now won three of their last four league matches, and the home fans will be expecting more of the same from the players. Meanwhile, Brentford are 15th in the league table, and they will look to finish the season strongly.
The Bees are unbeaten in the last five league matches, and they have picked up two consecutive victories in the league as well. Both teams are quite evenly matched in current form, and it remains to be seen who comes out on top.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Nathan Patterson is sidelined for the hosts with a thigh injury, and Dele Alli is ruled out for the season with a groin injury. Everton will shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start as the full-backs. They will look to add defensive cover to the side and help out during counter-attacking situations. James Tarkowski will start at the heart of the defence alongside Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace and creativity to the side from the flanks. In the middle of the park, Idrissa Gueye should line up alongside James Garner. They will look to break down opposition attacks.
Abdoulaye Doucoure will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to add drive to the midfield. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for Everton against Brentford on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Brentford
Joshua Dasilva sidelined for the season with a knee injury, while Aaron Hickey misses out with a thigh injury. Rico Henry misses out with a season-ending knee injury, and Ben Mee has an ankle problem.
Brentford will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal. Mads Roerslev and Sergio Reguilon will start in the full-back positions, and they will look to contribute in the attack and help out defensively as well. Ethan Pinnock will start at the heart of the defence alongside Nathan Collins.
In the middle of the park, Vitaly Janelt will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to break up opposition attacks and set up transitions. Mathias Jensen will shield the back four and Mikkel Damsgaard will look to add creativity and drive to the side. Ivan Toney will lead the line for Brentford, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon; Jensen, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa
Key Stats
- Brentford have scored at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
- Brentford are undefeated in their last five matches in the Premier League.
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Everton are unbeaten in four of their last six league matches.
- Brentford have scored 12 goals in their last six matches.
Player to Watch
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Everton striker got on the scoresheet against Liverpool, and he will look to continue his impressive run of form here as well. The Reds struggled to cope with his physicality and aerial prowess.
The performance will have given him immense confidence, and he will look to build on that now. He is our key player to watch out for. Everton will need him to be at his best to extend their fine run of form this week.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Brentford
Both teams are quite easily matched on current form, and this is likely to be a close contest. They will look to grind out all three points here. Everton are full of confidence and momentum right now, and Brentford have made themselves very difficult to beat. It will not be a surprise if the two teams end up cancelling each other out. A draw seems likely, and the two sides will share the spoils.
