Relegation battling Everton host Europa League chasing Brentford in a huge Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
Victory would see Everton climb out of the relegation zone, whilst Brentford can go seventh with a win if Brighton lose elsewhere.
Team News
Vitaliy Mykolenko is a doubt for Everton due to illness which forced him to sit out their 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Nathan Patterson (medial ligament) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) could return if declared match fit but Andros Townsend (knee) remains absent.
Brentford have no fresh injury concerns to report as Thomas Strakosha (ankle) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Brentford at Goodison Park at 3pm GMT on Saturday 11 March, albeit untelevised in UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton are yet to beat Brentford in the Premier League (D1, L2).
- Brentford won 3-2 in their only previous Premier League visit to Everton (W1), back in May 2022.
- Both teams have scored in two of their three previous Premier League meetings, except for a 1-0 home win for Thomas Frank’s Bees in November 2021.
- Everton have kept two clean sheets in three home matches under Sean Dyche (W2, L1).
- Brentford have kept just two clean sheets in their last seven away matches (W2, D3, L2), as they won 2-0 at West Ham in December then drew 0-0 at Leeds in January.
Prediction
Currently still sat in the relegation zone with a tricky run of fixtures coming across the next month, this game does feel must win for Everton who looked more energetic on the attack at Forest where they twice led, which hopefully they can build upon here boosted by a strong home crowd.
Defending though does remain the Toffees’ weak point with both of Brennan Johnson’s equalising goals enabled through poor marking of the Welshman, which does feel like a concern coming into a game like this where Brentford do carry multiple threats across the pitch.
Speaking of Brentford, they will come into this game on a high after claiming local pride in a dominant victory over Fulham, which has extended their unbeaten run yet their defence is often sloppy on the road – in turn offering Everton some hope if can attack the Bees’ defence with intensity.
This match also marks the first of three games in seven days against desperate relegation contenders for the top-seven chasing Bees, but if they play with the same quality as repeatedly seen in recent months then I can see an away win.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Brentford
Result: Everton 1-0 Brentford