Mark Lawrenson predicts Brentford v Everton
Everton will continue their poor run of form against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday, believes Mark Lawrenson.
The Toffees travel to west London having earned just two points from their last six matches, with the pressure growing on Rafa Benitez.
Ex-Liverpool defender Lawrenson doesn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel though and has predicted a 2-1 defeat for Everton.
Writing in his latest BBC Sport predictions column, the pundit shared his worries about the team’s attacking output.
“Both of these sides are on a bad run of results, but it is Everton who I am most concerned about because they have been playing poorly too,” he said.
“At least Brentford’s draw at Newcastle last week was a step in the right direction after four straight losses. Yes, the Bees have started to concede a lot of goals, but Everton just don’t look capable of punishing them at the moment.
“Rafa Benitez’s side started the season really well but injuries have taken their toll on a shallow squad. I look at them now and they are just a shadow of their former selves.
“With the Merseyside derby coming up next week, Benitez needs a positive result, and fast. I don’t see him getting one in west London though.”
Growing pressure
A defeat to another newly-promoted side, having lost 5-2 to Watford last month, would see the majority of Everton fans turn against Benitez if they haven’t already.
Of course, the Spaniard was not a popular appointment in the first instance because of his Liverpool connections and although he started well in the Goodison Park dugout, nothing has been going right in recent weeks.
Brentford have just one victory in their last seven matches and have not won at home since the opening weekend of the season, so this should be an opportunity for the Toffees to get three desperately needed points.
If Everton fail to triumph, they will be without a win in seven heading into the midweek Merseyside derby, with games against Arsenal and Chelsea to follow soon after; it seems unlikely Benitez would be able to survive that.
Without the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the suspended Richarlison, the Toffees need to find inspiration from somewhere on Sunday afternoon.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are keeping tabs on a striker with 10 goals in 13 appearances this season.
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