Everton 2 – 4 Brentford
It’s back to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first Everton game of the New Year, with Brentford this afternoon’s opposition. But they failed to read the script where they roll over and die, instead outplaying the home side to an embarrassing degree.
Jack Grealish returns after his illness over the Christmas period, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is still out with a hamstring problem. Tyler Dibling retains his place, as does Dwight McNeil, who played a key part in both goals last time out.
Michael Keane also returns but Charly Alcaraz is still out. Harrison Armstrong and two goalkeepers on the bench.
For the visitors, Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard come into the team. Rico Henry, Jordan Henderson and Keane Lewis-Potter are the three players to make way, with the trio named among the substitutes.
First Half
The Bees got things underway on the front foot, Damsgaard knocking it well wide. The Blues’ high press almost paid off as Brenford wanted to play it out. Iroegbunam was key to a transition and Grealish almost had a chance to shoot. McNeil did, forcing a fingertip save by Kelleher, the corner headed for the far corner of the goal by Tarkowski, cleared off the line.
Everton tried to build again but Barry was so weak, collapsing under a heavy breath from a defender. Brentford slowed things down, then tried the ball over the top to Thiago again. Barry forced a throw-in off Ajer, Mykolenko going deep but through to Kelleher.
From a poor Tarkowski pass, a sudden cross onto the boot of Thiago, and a very easy goal for The Bees.
Everton tried to respond but were a little lethargic after that body-blow and Brentford kept stealing the ball back, with a little help from the referee. Brentford almost broke through again, the ball rolling behind Thiago.
Grealish almost sprung Barry in but Kelleher was out sharply and Brentford attacked again. Barry fell over again and this time was given the foul.
Dibling was called for a soft foul on Collins and Brentford set for another central free-kick but they overplayed it. Still, Everton were struggling for any fluidity, Iroegbunam losing the ball, then regaining it high up, and an awful attempt at a shot, bobbling wide.
Thiago almost got behind the lines again but Keane and Mykolenko had to cover hard at the expense of a corner, Ajer heading over as Pickford was clearly fouled, Ajer getting extended treatment on the field for a head injury.
Mykolenko got a cross in to Barry who headed it straight to Kelleher. Yarmoliuk was booked for a foul on Garner. Everton got the ball into the Brentford area but first Dibling then Keane could not dig out a shot. Dibling overdid the dribble down the right wing and lost the ball in the end, nobody supporting him.
Everton tried to work it ponderously up the left wing through Grealish and Mykolenko but the turnover saw a really fast break with three Bees driving forward and forcing a corner.
Grealish got space and tempted Kayode into a rash challenge and a yellow card. Garner swung in a decent delivery but Schade went to ground under attention from Dibling. Everton struggled to clear Kayode’s long throw.
Another brilliant piece of football set up Schade but somehow he fired straight at Pickford when it seemed easier to score the second goal. They looked dangerous again when Thiago earnt time to cross.
Garmer gave the ball away horribly in midfield and Tarkowski had to give up the corner that was easily defended clear. But the ball was soon back and laid on a plate for Thiago, Pickford making himself big at the expense of another corner.
A rare moment of quality from Grealish laid on a brilliant cross to Barry but he misjudged it and Keane’s follow-up was blocked. But apart from that, Everton had been comprehensively out-played in almost every aspect of the game during a massively disappointing half and were very lucky not to go in 3 goals down.
Second Half
Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling were hauled off by David Moyes after that shitshow, Merllin Rohl and Beto on in their place — two up front, with not one but two potential sources of assists removed. Go figure.
Beto immediately had a chance but elected not to shoot and the chance was gone. Grealish tried to work the ball in from the left but Rohl could not control his direct pass. At the other end, a loppy Keane pass almost let Brentford in.
Good movement from Grealish should have set up something but didn’t and Damsgaard soon won a corner. A brilliant delivery and a simple near-post header, Ajer rising in a group of blue shirts. Shocking. 0-2.
Seconds later, Brentford simply waltzed through, Schade and Thiago teaming up for their third goal. 0-3… or not. Offside? VAR says no, not offside. Everton sick as parrots.
Iroegbunam did well to win the ball back… but then he held it too long and was easily dispossessed, Thiagi surging forward again to threaten. Everton worked through their limited playbook, Rohl almost going for a shot, while off the ball O’Brien took a little kick at Schade: petulant but not serious foul play was the VAR decision.
Tarkowski did very well to get a header on target but Kelleher palmed it out from under the bar and nothing came of the corner, but plenty of off-the-ball clashes on the set piece.
A decent ball in from Grealish after a throw-in sees Beto glance a nice header goalward beyond Kelleher and Everton claw back one goal: 1-3.
At the other end, it looked like Thiago would get his hat-trick but he did not hit it cleanly enough to beat Pickford.
Grealish and his left-wing pals took an age before Garner finally swung in a cross that Rohl couldn’t get on to. Armstrong replaced Iroegbunam with only 15 minutes left.
Thiago’s playacting after feeling Tarkowski’s raised arm adding another minute as the Blues chased shadows. Beto decided to shoot from 50 yards out; Tarkowski then overhit his through-ball.
A good forward pass from Armstrong got Garner into a good position for a cross. Beto did well and Rohl picked out Keane but it was too difficult to get his header on target.
Armstrong tried to push Everton forward but it broke down and the ball was quickly at Thiago’s feet — he had all the time in the world to amble forward and beat Pickford for his hat-trick: 1-4.
Clever work by Grealish and a lovely cross to Thierno Barry at the far post made it 2-4. Too little, too late.
Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Garner, Iroegbunam (77′ Armstrong), Grealish, McNeil (46′ Beto), Dibling (46′ Rohl), Barry.
Subs not Used: Travers, King, Patterson, Aznou, Campbell, Welch.
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode [Y:39′], Ajer, Collins, Hickey (76′ Henry); Janelt, Jensen, [Y:31′] (64′ Henderson); Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Thiago, Schade (64′ Lewis-Potter).
Subs not Used: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Nelson, Peart-Harris, Donovan.
The game was live on Sky Sports Golf