Daniel Feliciano

Fri 10 March 2023 12:10, UK

Mark Lawrenson admits Everton are struggling right now, but he is still backing them to beat Brentford in their Premier League clash on Saturday (11 March).

The Toffees enter the game in the relegation zone on goal difference, with no team having scored less goals this season, but with two wins from their last three home games under Sean Dyche.

Brentford are flying right now and pushing for a place in Europe, but Lawrenson believes the positive mood around Everton right now could be the difference maker and told Paddy Power (9 March) that he is predicting a 2-1 win for the blues.

“Everton are conceding a few but they scored two last time and they’ve been struggling to score in general so it’s a strange one and they buckled towards the end in that 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest,” he said.

“Brentford are very similar in style, they’re an updated Everton, really. They’re really physical, they get the ball forward early, but I think Everton will beat them.

“There’s a positivity there and it’s a tough gig going to Goodison. Everton 2-1 Brentford.”

Must-win

As Sean Dyche said in his pre-match press conference, every game between now and the end of the season is a big game now and the home games are the most important.

Dyche found a good balance last weekend away from home against Nottingham Forest with the team scoring two goals but defensively they didn’t do enough.

But a similar performance at home will have the fans excited and right behind the team, and that could be the difference when it comes to keeping Brentford out of the game.

The likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo have been in really good form, but Dyche has made big decisions with his defence recently and if he sticks with them then the team will have a great chance of success.

The players must perform though and can’t solely rely on the fans to get them over the line, but once again Everton find themselves in a must-win situation against a team they’re not expected to win against.