Everton may have clinched safety midweek with their 2-0 triumph over Liverpool but we need to get as far from the drop zone as we can. Everton host Brentford this Saturday and with 3 points it would propel Everton up to 15th place, swapping spots with Brentford who are currently two points ahead of us.
Everton Vs. Liverpool (24/4/2024)
A game for the ages, one I will remember and look back on for years to come. Everton only mustered 24% possession during the match but were more clinical in that 24% than Liverpool were with their 76% possession. Liverpool lead in every statistic category except two, fouls committed and goals scored! We would have a few half chances in the first half but in the 27th coming from a McNeil free kick the ball would not leave Liverpool’s 18 and eventually fell to a ready Jarrad Branthwaite. Branthwaite put the ball on target and somehow the ball would slide under and pop out from a diving Allison into the goal.
The rest of the first half would be full of Jordan Pickford saves and Ben Godfrey goal line heroics, keeping the one goal lead intact. Mykolenko was substituted at half time after sustaining a pretty nasty looking ankle injury, he was replaced by Ashley Young.
The start of the second half would be a continuation of the ending of the first half, that being Liverpool chance after chance. In the 57′ McNeil took a long distance shot that Allison parried out for a corner. McNeil proceeded to take the corner and placed a pin point ball to a rising Dominic Calvert-Lewin, GOALLLLLLL. The Toffees extend their lead to two goals and with that the wind was sucked out of Liverpool’s sails.
With a couple more saves by Pickford bringing his total save count to 7 on the day, The Blues would see out the 2-0 victory. A crucial 3 points push us 8 points clear of the drop zone. Maybe we can relax on the final day this season!
Brentford Vs. Luton Town (20/4/2024)
This match was a one sided affair and it was over before the second half kicked off. Wissa scored a brace in the first half to push Brentford to a two goal cushion but Luton never looked like they were going to get back in the match. Brentford would put three more past Luton in the second half making it 5 goals scored on the day.
Luton did in fact lead in possession but could not create anything of value. Brentford totaled 21 shots to Luton’s 6 and with that being said Brentford had an xG of 3.14 while Luton had a mere 0.59. A 5-1 victory for Brentford at kenilworth road made Everton’s win even sweeter.
Everton Key player
Jarrad Branthwaite will be pivotal once again for the blues. Coming off of a goal and a clean sheet, JB will look to replicate that performance and add to it. JB has kept 10 clean sheets in 31 matches this Premier League season. When Branthwaite is on the pitch. He’s also makes and average 1.92 tackles and 1.59 interceptions every 90 minutes he was on the pitch. He also tallies 4.42 clearances at the same time.”
Brentford love to play direct and into their pacey forwards at that. JB and Tarky have the be on their heels to keep Wissa and Toney, if Toney is healthy.
Brentford Key player
Sergio Reguilon will be a handful for Everton, he dominates the flanks going forward. Reguilon sends in an average of 6 crosses a game and 2 key passes and has earned himself 4 assists thus far. Brentford starts their play from the back and they prefer to do it down left side through Reguilon.
Reguilon also is defensively sound , he’s made 3.29 tackles and 1.27 interceptions for every 90 minutes he was on the pitch. He’s also a stout defender near his own goal earning himself about 2 clearances a game. Hopefully we can trouble him with our dynamic attack. (sarcasm)
All in all, another 3 points here would be absolutely massive and almost surely secure our status in the Premier League for another season. Brentford is coming off a 5 goal game but we are the team in form earning 10 points out a possible 15 from our last 5 matches.
After that Liverpool match I feel as if we can beat anyone and Brentford is the unlucky victim next in line! UTFT.
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