Preview: Brentford vs. Everton - prediction, team news, lineups

The Bees were bested by Newcastle United in their most recent affair, while Sean Dyche's tepid side were deservedly beaten by Arsenal on their own patch.

Match preview

A seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was snapped at St James' Park last weekend, as Brentford lost for the first time in the top flight since May owing to a Callum Wilson penalty, which also brought a halt to Newcastle's miserable losing streak.

No fewer than eight yellow cards were brandished by referee Craig Pawson during a bad-tempered and controversial affair, but Newcastle displayed the defensive nous that has often eluded them in recent months to condemn Brentford to their first loss of the season.

Despite going unbeaten in their opening four games of the new term, home draws with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace were nothing to write home about for Thomas Frank's side, who have already played out three stalemates this term - the joint-most in the league alongside the Cherries.

As such, the Bees are entrenched in mid-table obscurity in 11th place at this embryonic stage, and Frank's side still have just the one clean sheet to their name this season from their 3-0 thumping of Fulham, failing to keep the back door closed in each of their last four games.

A daunting EFL Cup fixture with Arsenal also lies in wait for Brentford before the end of the month, but the Gunners are one of only two teams to have beaten Frank's men at home in the Premier League since the start of last season, and the hosts have scored in 16 successive top-flight games at the Gtech since a goalless draw with Chelsea 11 months ago.

Such statistics will not make for pleasant reading for the Everton faithful, who welcomed Arsenal to Goodison Park last weekend with optimism of extending their purple patch over the Gunners, who had not won on the Toffees' turf since the 2017-18 season.

Everton's attempts to frustrate Arsenal initially worked a treat - thanks in no small part to Gabriel Martinelli's disallowed goal - but debutant goalkeeper David Raya was kept incredibly quiet down the other end of the field, and the Gunners eventually found a way through courtesy of a sublime Leandro Trossard winner.

Dyche's side only needed a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth last season to stave off relegation, but they have since suffered three successive Goodison losses to Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal by that scoreline, the latter of which came after they held out for their first point of the new term at Sheffield United.

As a result, the Toffees are languishing in familiar territory in 18th place and have just the two goals to their name this season - a joint-low alongside Luton Town - and their endeavours against Arsenal did little to suggest that their attacking fortunes will change overnight.

However, Everton impressively managed to take four points from a possible six in meetings with Brentford last season, coming away from the capital with a 1-1 draw in August before prevailing at Goodison Park - unsurprisingly by a 1-0 scoreline - courtesy of Dwight McNeil's 35-second goal.

Brentford Premier League form:

Brentford form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

D

L

Everton Premier League form:

Everton form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

L

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Team News

A devastating injury was added to insult for Brentford at St James' Park last weekend, as Rico Henry went off in the first half with what is suspected to be an ACL problem, meaning that the left-back may have played his final game in the red and white strip this season.

Henry was one of two casualties from that loss alongside Ben Mee - who will need a once-over after sustaining a knock, as will recent absentees Kristoffer Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard - while Shandon Baptiste (shoulder) and Josh Dasilva (thigh) are also out for the long term.

In addition to the suspended Ivan Toney, Brentford's Neal Maupay is ineligible to face his parent club too, so Kevin Schade should be brought back into the final third as Frank reverts to a more offensive system.

In contrast, Everton came out of their loss to Arsenal without any fresh fitness woes to contend with, and the injury-riddled Dominic Calvert-Lewin should now come into Dyche's thinking for a start after a late cameo against the Gunners.

However, Dele Alli (groin) and Seamus Coleman (knee) will not be making their returns for another few weeks, and the trip to London may also come too soon for Jack Harrison (groin) and Andre Gomes (calf).

While a change or two up front may be considered, Dyche should keep faith with the majority of his rearguard members, including Jarrad Branthwaite, who put in a dogged display to keep Arsenal at bay for the first 70 minutes of last weekend's contest.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Pinnock, Roerslev; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Danjuma, Gueye, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil; Beto

We say: Brentford 2-0 Everton

So far this season, goals have been easier to come by for Everton on the road than they have at Goodison Park, and last season's respectable results against Brentford should also stand the Toffees in good stead.

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