Everton-Brentford is a match valid for the thirty-fifth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 6:30pm: live TV, streaming, likely lineups, predictions.
The two wins in three days with Burnley and Nottingham Forest had been comforting signs but not to the point of thinking Everton would get the better of the derby with hated Liverpool. Instead, surprisingly, the Toffees prevailed 2-0 over the Reds at Goodison Park, thanks to goals from Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin, putting another brick on salvation.
Sean Dyche’s men last Wednesday defended excellently and despite hardly ever seeing the ball (76% Reds possession) were good at closing any kind of gap to Jurgen Klopp’s team, striking at the right time. A success, in short, worth double, if we consider that Everton now has eight points more than the third-last, Luton Town. Salvation, then, will most likely come despite the heavy penalty the Toffees have to deal with since last November: without that (8 points total) they would be on 41 points, already certain to play in the Premier League next season as well. In this round, on the wings of enthusiasm for the victory in the cross-city match, Everton will try to get closer to the goal in their second consecutive home match with Brentford.
The Bees, too, have regained confidence in their own means, and the two victories in a row with Sheffield United and Luton Town have banished fear. Thomas Frank’s team, in fact, has only one point more than Everton and has yet to win mathematical salvation. Despite the prolonged absence of goal scorer Ivan Toney, out with injury, the Londoners have managed to score 10 total goals in the last three league days.
The Prediction
Whoever wins, of course, will perhaps take a decisive step toward safety. Let’s stick with Everton, galvanized by their derby victory and defeated only once before their own public in 2024 in the league. The Toffees, moreover, come from three consecutive home clean sheets: which is why we expect a match of less than four goals total.
Everton-Brentford
likely lineups.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil; Doucouré; Calvert-Lewin.
BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa, Lewis-Potter.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
