Everton host Brentford at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday in a crucial battle at both ends of the table.

The home side are fighting for their top-flight future, while the visitors have aspirations of European football next season.

Match preview

For the second season running, Everton inexplicably find themselves embroiled in another relegation battle, despite being one of the highest-spending clubs in the country over the last decade.

Sean Dyche was hired at the end of January after Frank Lampard managed to win just six points from his final 12 games in charge.

Damaging defeats to relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton and West Ham United ultimately finished Lampard off, and there has been an evident shift in form since Dyche's arrival.

The ex-Burnley boss has already amassed more points during his six games in charge than Lampard did in his final 12 as manager.

With every point critical at this stage, a draw at Nottingham Forest last weekend added to the six points the Toffees picked up in home wins over Arsenal and Leeds United.

However, there was a sense of disappointment in the aftermath of that 2-2 draw at the City Ground, given that they led twice and individual errors cost them once more.

Their last 29 away league matches have yielded just two wins, so Everton will be glad to be back on home soil for this encounter, which is looking like a must-win for the blue half of Merseyside.

With Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to come in their next three after this weekend, it is tough to see where Everton's next points would come from should they fall to defeat here.

Not conceding the first goal will be of the utmost importance, as all four of Everton's wins at home this season have seen them keep a clean sheet, with three ending 1-0, and they have lost seven of the eight home games in which they have conceded in this season.

Given the gulf in stature of the two clubs only a few years ago, Everton fans are notably furious at how Brentford have seemingly taken over their status as one of the best of the rest in the Premier League.

The Bees are threatening to be more than just that though having now gone 12 games unbeaten in the league, a run stretching back to October.

A 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday night moved them to within a point of their West London rivals in seventh with two games in hand, making European qualification a very real possibility.

Thomas Frank's side won home and away against Everton last season, and were left scratching their heads at how they did not come out on top in the reverse fixture back in August, despite Vitaly Janelt's late equaliser which earned a 1-1 draw.

Team News

The fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains the biggest talking point at Everton, as the forward has missed the last five games with a thigh problem.

Dyche has hinted that he could return imminently, but Demarai Gray could find himself spearheading the home side's attack again for this one, after he replaced Neal Maupay last weekend.

James Garner returned to the matchday squad for the trip to Nottingham, but did not make it off the bench.

Vitalii Mykolenko was absent at left-back with illness, while Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson remain out injured.

Brentford have no new injury concerns to worry about for the trip up north, with backup goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha the only player currently out.

Frank often reverts to a back three for away games, so Kristoffer Ajer could come into the side as a third centre-back.

That could see Yoane Wissa drop to the bench, leaving Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo up front in a two-man attack.

Mads Roerslev could be preferred as a more natural option at right wing-back over Aaron Hickey, who has featured in a more orthodox back four in Brentford's last two matches.

With Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen regular starters, Janelt, Mikkel Damsgaard and Josh Dasilva will battle for the third starting spot in central midfield.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Gray

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Roerslev, Ajer, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Norgaard, Jensen, Janelt; Mbeumo, Toney

We say: Everton 0-1 Brentford

Everton are struggling to find the net on a consistent basis despite netting twice last week, with six of their eight goals since the World Cup coming from dead ball situations, and it could be their undoing again if they cannot take advantage of those specific opportunities here.

Brentford are one of the most confident and in-form sides in the Premier League at the moment, and will fancy their chances on the road against one of the favourites to go down at the end of the season.


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