Everton vs Brentford: Match Preview and Team Updates

Everton will host Brentford at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this Sunday in an important New Year’s match.

The Toffees aim to build on their recent 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Under David Moyes, the team is currently eighth in the Premier League with 28 points. A win could help them move up to seventh place, depending on other match results.

Brentford travels to Merseyside after achieving their longest unbeaten run under head coach Keith Andrews. They recently drew 0-0 with Tottenham Hotspur. The Bees are just one point behind Everton, sitting in ninth place. While their away form has been inconsistent, they are still close to the European qualifying spots. This match will mark Brentford’s first visit to Everton’s new stadium.

Everton vs Brentford – Match Preview and Team News

• Date: Sunday, 4 January 2026
• Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
• Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
• Referee: Anthony Taylor
• VAR: Tony Harrington
• Last Meeting: Brentford 1-1 Everton, 26 February 2025, Premier League

Team News

Everton

David Moyes received good news as Jack Grealish is back in full training after illness and is available for selection. Michael Keane could also return after a minor injury. However, the team will still be without Charly Alcaraz, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Seamus Coleman due to injuries. Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Brentford

Keith Andrews is dealing with a few minor injuries following the match against Spurs. Most players are expected to be fit for the trip. Sepp van den Berg is fully available again, while Mathias Jensen is recovering from a recent illness. Brentford will miss Dango Ouattara and Frank Onyeka due to AFCON duties, along with long-term absentees Fabio Carvalho, Joshua Dasilva, and Antoni Milambo, who are sidelined with knee injuries.

Form

Everton

Everton has improved defensively under David Moyes, winning their last five league games without conceding any goals. Jordan Pickford has kept eight clean sheets this season, second only to David Raya. However, the team’s offense is a concern, averaging only 3.1 shots on target per game.

Brentford

Brentford features a strong attack, scoring an average of 1.56 goals per game, with Igor Thiago leading the team with 11 goals. However, their away performance has been a weakness, with only Wolves losing more away games this season.

Predicted Lineups

Everton predicted XI: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko; Iroegbunam, Garner; McNeil, Rohl, Grealish; Barry

Brentford predicted XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Yarmolyuk; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade

How to watch Everton vs Brentford?

The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, starting at 14:00 GMT, with the match kicking off at 15:00.