SAFE! Everton secure their Premier League status with three games remaining in the campaign following their third win in as many games.
With a chance to finally drag themselves out of the relegation fight, Sean Dyche and company welcomed Brentford to Goodison Park for match week 35 in the Premier League. Tracksuit Dyche turned to 19 year-old Yourself Chermiti to lead the line in his first ever start in the league, as Beto and Calvert-Lewin were not fit enough to be involved in the match. Ashley Young came into the lineup as a left back as Mykolenko’s injury looks to keep him sidelined, but Everton fielded an otherwise unchanged starting eleven.
It was immediate involvement for the Portuguese striker in the 6th minute, as Dwight McNeil drilled a great ball across the face of goal. Chermiti came charging through the box and stuck a leg out at it but just narrowly couldn’t get on it time and the ball sailed out of play. It was a cagey affair back and forth in the first half, with both teams seemingly unable to get out of first gear. Chermiti looked bright in the first half as did Gana Gueye and James Garner in the midfield, who hummed along as the engine room of the side.
Despite looking a bit off the pace, Doucoure nearly put the toffees ahead right on the stroke of halftime. Chermiti did brilliantly to take the ball down just direct it straight to Doucoure, unfortunately, the midfielder’s volley on his weak foot from inside the box left a lot to be desired and went out for a goal kick. Halftime would see the sides level at 0-0, with a half-chance for Jensen being the closest Brentford came to breaking down a rock solid Everton defense.
Just after halftime, it was time for Jordan Pickford to enter the fray and keep Everton level. Brentford’s Wissa played a great ball to Jensen who curled a dangerous pass into Ivan Toney. The in-form striker barreled one on goal but Pickford, a man in-form himself, did well to beat the shot away. The deadlock would be broken in the 60th minute, by once again, a rather unlikely goal scorer. It was chaos in the box as Harrison collected in the box and attempted to pass it inside to Branthwaite. The defender’s shot was blocked, but the deflection fell to Idrissa Gueye in the box who absolutely leathered the ball into the top corner. After not scoring at Goodison Park, the midfielder’s second goal in a week’s time at the famous ground would prove decisive.
Getting over the line was not particularly a cake walk for Everton as Pickford had to make a couple of quality saves, but in the end the sound structure and patient play was rewarded with another massive 3 points. It is difficult to think up more superlatives for Sean Dyche following what has been one of the better weeks to be an Everton fan in quite a period of time. Following a 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea, Everton bested relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, put in a 10/10 display in the Merseyside derby to beat Liverpool at Goodison for the first time since 2014, and then played a class tactical game of football to secure their safety 1-0 against Brentford.
The manager has no doubt faced scrutiny, and a poor fun of form the first several months of 2024 perhaps called for it, but he has responded in kind. In addition, players have stepped up all over the pitch. Jordan Pickford has been pound for pound of the best goalkeepers in Europe this campaign, Calvert-Lewin is back among the goals, and Idrissa Gueye and James Garner have looked stronger than they have in months. The entire backline has as well been class as of late, with Branthwaite and Tarkowski looking nearly unbeatable while ben Godfrey has, perhaps surprisingly, put in several very decent shifts at right back as well. And finally, a tip of the cap to Yourself Chermiti, who at 19 years old, looked bright and showed his quality in his first ever start, providing some excitement for his role in the squad next season.
Supporters will no doubt welcome a pressure-free final three games of the league season, and Sean dyche’s tracksuit toffees will look to close out strong and carry some momentum into the last dance at Goodison Park next season. For now, enjoy the positive aura around the club. Three consecutive relegation fights, point deductions, ownership turmoil, and uncertainty galore. The club has most certainly proved one thing, we will not be moved.
UTFT!
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