In-form sides Brentford and Everton go head-to-head at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Brentford enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win over Leicester City on Friday to bolster their chances of European football, while Everton were impressive once again despite failing to see out their clash with Manchester United the following day.
Match preview
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A resounding win over the Foxes in the Friday night Premier League fixture allowed Brentford to enjoy the weekend safe in the knowledge that they are now firmly in a race for Europe.
That win moved the Bees into 11th, and they were initially just two points off the top eight, but even though Aston Villa won to stretch that gap to five points, Thomas Frank's men have a game in hand over them.
Brentford are now in scintillating form on the road following four straight away wins, but they are desperately looking to rediscover home comforts at the Gtech.
In mid-December, Brentford had the most home wins (seven), points (22) and goals (26) in the division, but in the past two months, they have taken just one point from a possible 15 here, and even that came in dramatic circumstances with a late comeback against Manchester City.
Frank's side also have their difficulties under the lights, as well as against Everton, because they are still awaiting a first ever midweek Premier League win (drawn three, lost four), while they are five without victory against their upcoming opponents.
The hosts completed a league double over Everton in their first season as a Premier League club in 2021-22, but they have not beaten them since, even though they did earn a very positive point at Goodison Park earlier in the season, playing more than half of the game with 10 men.
While that result was not what Everton wanted, it did see them keep a third clean sheet in four games against Brentford, but they have all come at Goodison, with the Toffees conceding exactly one goal on their three previous visits here.
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That mattered little last season, as Everton won 3-1 here for their first win of the 2023-24 season, and they would love a repeat of that to get over the anger of frustration of letting a two-goal lead slip at home to Man United at the weekend.
David Moyes's side blew the Red Devils away in the first half, leading 2-0, but a sluggish second-half display saw United level the score in the latter stages, before Everton were denied an injury-time penalty by a bizarre VAR intervention which has been widely criticised by pundits and former referees.
Nevertheless, another point means Everton are unbeaten in six league games, and have taken more points than any other team in the league in that time.
In Moyes's four home games, Everton have scored at least twice on each occasion, managing that feat for the first time in eight years, while they have rediscovered their defensive stability too, with their four lowest xG-conceded tallies all coming under Moyes.
Even away from home, Moyes has had a profound impact, winning both matches since taking charge, at Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, and the visiting manager will look to overturn another negative recent record, because Everton have failed to win any of their previous 15 away nighttime matches in the Premier League.
Team News
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Brentford were without defender Sepp van den Berg for their trip to Leicester, but the well-timed return of Ethan Pinnock alleviated that, and the Jamaican should partner Nathan Collins once more.
Just over six weeks after returning from injury, Mathias Jensen is on the sidelines again with an adductor injury that will keep him out until next month, meaning he will miss out along with Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva and Igor Thiago.
Christian Norgaard netted Brentford's third goal at the King Power, but was then subbed off at half time, with manager Frank citing illness as the reason, making him a doubt for this one.
Norgaard's Danish compatriot Jesper Lindstrom was also forced off with illness for Everton the following day, and is doubtful too, with the visitors severely lacking in wide options due to the knee injuries suffered by Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil.
Abdoulaye Doucoure rather surprisingly came straight back into the Everton XI against Man United, replacing Carlos Alcaraz who scored and assisted in the win over Palace, but the Malian midfielder equalled the new signing's feat in an excellent first-half performance on Saturday.
Beto's sensational run continued with another goal at the weekend, becoming the first Everton player since Richarlison four years ago to net in four successive league outings, meaning they are not missing the injured duo of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Armando Broja at present.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Pinnock, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Harrison; Beto
We say: Brentford 1-1 Everton
Moyes has won both away games since taking charge of Everton against challenging mid-table opponents, and Brentford will provide a similar test, with the hosts now dreaming of Europe.
A win for either side would be important in moving them up the table, but it is a very tough game to call, with both in excellent form, and a draw could well be the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
