Paul Merson predicts Everton v Brentford with new relegation admission
Paul Merson has backed Brentford to beat Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Goodison Park will host the Bees on 23 November, with Sean Dyche looking to return to winning ways just three points off the relegation zone.
Writing in his column on Sportskeeda [21 November], Merson expects a 1-0 defeat for the Toffees, though relegation isn’t on the cards, he believes.
“Everton need to start winning football matches,” he said. “It’s becoming a bit of a five-horse race to avoid relegation now, and I will not count Everton in that. But if they do what they did against Southampton a few weeks ago, they will be pulled back into that conversation.
“It’s because of the way Everton play that I feel they will always somehow get out of trouble in the end.
“Make no mistake, this is a hard game for Everton, and I don’t think they will win. I look at this game, and Brentford are a team that score a lot of goals, Everton don’t. So I have to back Brentford to win here.”
Everton loss against Brentford detrimental to Sean Dyche
Everton are 16th in the Premier League and could be in the bottom three by next week if they lose and results elsewhere go against them.
Dyche didn’t have a good start to the 2024/25 season, losing the first four games, and the Toffees were winless in their first five.
It was surprising to many that the 53-year-old survived after a dismal start, although the takeover process at the club could have something to do with him keeping his place in the dugout.
But things need to turn around quickly at the Blues, and despite the 0-0 draw against West Ham on 9 November before the international break, the performance didn’t instil a lot of encouragement.
Goalscoring has been an issue for Dyche’s team over the last few years, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has failed to lead the line adequately in the current campaign, scoring just two goals.
While Brentford have been lethal in attack, they’ve also been weak defensively, conceding 22 goals in the league, something the Toffees need to capitalise on.
In other Everton news, Alan Myers shared the possible timeline for when the takeover will be finalised.
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