Everton vs Brentford: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Where to Watch | OneFootball

Everton will host Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday for their first match of the new year.

The Toffees ended 2025 eighth in the league standings with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest away from home. The game at City Ground was a real test of the Blues’ squad depth, who were missing several key players and hadn’t won or scored a goal in the preceding three matches.

However, the likes of James Garner, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien and Tim Iroegbunam stepped up to secure an impressive win and ensure the side’s return to the top half of the table.

Following a run of difficult games against Chelsea and Arsenal, the Blues will aim to build momentum with home games against Brentford and bottom-placed Wolves in their pursuit of European football.

Everton are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Brentford, but having lost their first league game in seven of the last eight calendar years, they cannot take a positive result for granted.

Brentford are just below David Moyes’ side in the league table and registered a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day. The Bees have not faced defeat in their last four matches; however, their form on the road remains poor. Only Wolves have lost more top-flight away games than Brentford’s seven losses on the road this season.

Keith Andrews’ side have a more productive attack than the Toffees, spearheaded by Igor Thiago, who has scored 11 league goals this season. However, their backline is not as solid, and have conceded 26 goals so far, with only Manchester United having a poorer defensive record of any team in the top half of the table.

The Bees have also failed to score a goal in each of their last three away assignments against the Toffees.

Everton vs Brentford - Team News and Predicted Starting XI

Everton Team News

Everton have recalled Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston North End. The teenage midfielder is expected to provide some respite to a desperate injury crisis plaguing the squad at the moment.

Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Seamus Coleman remain sidelined with long-term hamstring injuries, while Michael Keane and Charly Alcaraz are also doubtful for this clash, after failing to make the squad for the trip to City Ground.

David Moyes, however, refused to elaborate on the severity of their injuries.

Meanwhile, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are with the Senegal national team and will face Sudan in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations this weekend.

Nathan Patterson made his first start for the Blues this season against Nottingham Forest and could retain his place in the XI if Keane is ruled out for the weekend. Jack Grealish is likely available to start after coming off the bench against Forest following a spell of illness that caused him to miss the goalless draw with Burnley.

Everton’s predicted starting XI: Jordan Pickford (GK), Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, Tim Iroegbunam, James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Tyler Dibling, Thierno Barry, Jack Grealish

Everton vs Brentford - Form Guide

Everton: W-L-L-D-W

Brentford: L-D-W-W-D

When is Everton vs Brentford?

Everton will host Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, January 4. Kick-off for the first game of 2026 is scheduled at 3:00 pm UK time.

Where to Watch Everton vs Brentford?

The Premier League contest between Everton and Brentford will be telecast on Sky Sports for viewers in the UK. Meanwhile, the game will also be available for live streaming on Sky Go and on the Sky Sports app.

Reader Comments (7)

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Tony Abrahams 3 Posted 02/01/2026 at 11:09:24

I’ve just been writing something similar on another thread Paul. Be very careful Anjishnu, because the robots are on their way in, and if you are not aware of what happens once you let undesirables in, then I honestly don’t think that this website has got long left.

Tony Abrahams 5 Posted 02/01/2026 at 12:21:53

Hopefully Anjishnu, because you bought into what was once a very popular website, and it has slowly started going downhill, mate. (I’m usually conservative with my criticism!)

Some people have left over the gambling adverts, but I’m sure it’s all about content for most people? Quality over quantity, and a little bit of time spent on the personal touch, which is something you have already began to do, and hopefully this website, can become what it used to be, once again.

A place to argue, a place to both agree or disagree, but more than anything, a place where we can at times be educated, by so many of the interesting posters, who populate or used to populate this website.

I don't really understand the constant secretary from Moyes about our injured players. Is it really that much of a benefit to the opposition team to know which players we have available?

That is the only reason I can think of for Davey's evasiveness! I would like to think he has a duty to us fans to keep us fully informed. This club plays such large part in many of our lives.

Whether Alcaraz or Keane are available for this one (we don't know!), I would still like to see the same team that started at Forest, with only Grealish starting instead of Rohl.

Hopefully, Dibling will keep his place on the right with Patterson keeping his place behind him. I'm not a Patterson fan (he should've been replaced this summer) but he should start to keep our shape and O'Brien at CB. McNeil as our number 10, which is by far his best position.

Pickford

Patterson Tarkowski O'Brien Mykolenko

Garner Iroegbunam

Dibling McNeil Grealish

Barry

So pretty much the predicted team from Anjishnu (haha) but with the formation I suggested regardless of Alcaraz's and Keane's availablity.