Everton

Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator at the Gtech Community Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

When Everton completed the signing of Jake O'Brien last summer the club described him as one of Europe's most talented young defenders. A fee of £16.4m was paid following a standout season at Lyon where the Irishman made 27 starts in the French top flight, as well as scoring in their cup final defeat to Paris St Germain.

Upon his arrival manager Sean Dyche made his feelings clear. He viewed the 23-year-old as a squad player saying: "Jake further strengthens our talented core of centre-backs and adds competition."

This opinion didn't appear to waver, with Dyche using him just twice as a substitute over the 20 Premier League matches he was in charge of this season.

The day after scoring his first goal for the club at Brentford, O'Brien has now featured in every single game since David Moyes' return, earning seven consecutive Premier League starts, and playing every single minute of their last six fixtures.

This isn't a dig at Dyche. It's understandable he deemed James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite as his first choice centre-half pairing. One can add in the fact O'Brien didn't make a senior appearance for Crystal Palace during a two-and a half year spell in South London before his move to Lyon.

Where Dyche and Moyes differ is the current manager has seen more than enough from O'Brien to know he can help the team, even if it means playing him out of position at right back.

How long the Republic of Ireland international's run in the side continues could be determined by Nathan Patterson's recovery from injury - a natural in the full-back position.

Speaking to me afterwards Moyes said Patterson "wasn't ready" despite being part of the squad who travelled to Brentford, and his place on the bench was in the case of an "emergency".

With a long-term view in mind, it might not be a formality a fully fit Patterson does replace O'Brien. Moyes has previously spoken of how "young centre-backs have to find their way out as full-backs."

Transfer noise surrounding Branthwaite is only likely to increase during the summer, with the latest gossip linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

O'Brien getting as much Premier League experience as he can between now and the end of the season seems logical, not only for his development, but also for when it comes to succession planning.

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your views on Everton's Premier League draw at Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: A typical David Moyes Everton performance. At times we were down but we were never out. Players out injured and Abdoulaye Doucoure not available for personal reasons but the players never gave up and got a very well deserved point. Moyes has given me my Everton back!

Greg: We stuck at it and could have won it if we had someone who could finish. Anyone who thinks Beto is the answer is badly mistaken. Top marks to James Garner who was pulling the strings all game. Great to have him back. Moyes is doing a fantastic job.

Dan: On another day we win that. Three great chances for Beto and he could have slid Carlos Alcaraz in late on. But on the other hand, we could have lost that and before the Moyesiah's return, we probably would have. Good fightback and effort from the lads.

• Not an Everton fan? Find and follow your club here

Lou: Great performance from Everton. Yes Ashley Young went down easily but the referee gave it on the pitch. There was no clear and obvious error so why is VAR getting involved? It's wonderful to not be looking over our shoulders and praying that there are three teams below us. Finally seeing a bit of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Finally able to watch EFC play with a little confidence.

Ian: Beto, Beto, Beto - he has to put at least one of those chances away. Well done to the team to keep on fighting. A tough fixture that we should have won but came away with a good point.

Johnny: There's been a difficulty awarding Everton penalties for a number of seasons. Probably dismissing my observation as biased and "all clubs feel that way etc" but anyway, let's not detract from this resurgence under Moyes and the fact Everton are back!

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender Jake O'Brien says the Toffees are "very confident" going into all their games, as they continued their recent unbeaten run in the league.

The Ireland international scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday's draw with Brentford, to help make it seven league games without defeat for David Moyes' side.

"It's a really good feeling - it was a tough game but we're happy we came away with something," he said.

"In the first half, we had chances but we deserved to come away with something and it's seven unbeaten now.

"[Against Manchester United] we deserved three points. This week has been difficult as well but we've come away with another point - as long as we're tallying up our points.

"We're seven unbeaten and there's a good positive vibe around the place. We're looking very confident going into all our games."

Everton now have a nine-day break before their next game, against Wolves and O'Brien thinks it has come at a good time for the squad: "It's been a tough couple of games over the past few weeks but it's the perfect time to settle down for a little bit and go again in the next game."

Listen to the interview on BBC Sounds

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's 'new manager bounce' under David Moyes continued on Wednesday as they fought back from behind to hold Brentford to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League.

The Toffees are now unbeaten in seven league matches and have taken 15 points from a possible 24 since Moyes returned for his second spell in January - having only collected 17 from a possible 57 under former boss Sean Dyche.

Everton's upturn in form is particularly impressive considering the long list of injuries the Merseyside club have had to deal with this season.

Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja all remain sidelined with injuries while Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was on target against Manchester United on Saturday and also at Brentford last season, was unavailable with his wife due to give birth.

But the Toffees did not let the absences affect them at Brentford and could have come away with all three points, had Beto capitalised on one of the three one-on-ones against Bees keeper Mark Flekken.

They are now 15 points clear of the drop zone and will hope to pull further away from it when they face 17th-placed Wolves next.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton manager David Moyes, speaking to TNT Sports: "I am happy with that because I have never had a good record here. Thomas Frank is a good manager. I thought we were at least worthy of a point today. Beto had three one-one ones with the goalkeeper and we did not score any of them

"I was really disappointed with the players at half-time because we concede from a set-piece that way. We try to prepare for it but did not deal with it very well.

"The game was really slow in the first half. I thought it suited us. We had the best chances with Beto through on goal. In the second half, we saw a lot more of the ball and we were the bigger threat in the second."

On upturn in the club's form: "I don't really want to be someone who comes in to save the club from relegation. I want to be a manager who competes for Europe like I have been in three years prior to this.

"But, let's be honest. Everton were in a terrible position. We are looking up rather than down. We have been disappointed with getting a draw tonight and should have picked up more on Saturday."

Image source, Getty Images

Everton are now unbeaten in each of their last seven Premier League matches (W4 D3), their longest unbeaten run since December 2017 (W4 D3).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action

• Brentford v Everton

• Man Utd v Ipswich

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Man City

• Liverpool v Newcastle (20:15)

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

Everton forward Beto says he is keen to capitalise on an opportunity that "he has never had" since joining the club.

The striker, who has scored five goals in his past four Premier League matches will be looking to continue his hot streak when the Toffees travel to London to face Brentford on Wednesday.

"This is the first time [since joining the club] I'm feeling like this, this excited to play every game," Beto told club media.

"I just want to play this next game to see how it's going to be. I don't want to have one week off without a game. I just want to keep playing, because before I wasn't playing. Now that I'm playing and I feel that I'm getting better and better, I want to test myself.

"The team is helping me a lot. They're trying to find me. I can see they trust me. They trust in my strength and I just want to pay back the trust they put on me."

When asked if this is the best he has felt in his playing career, Beto added: "Almost. I've felt this type of way in Udinese, in Italy, and I'm starting to feel it now in Everton and I'm happy for the team."

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wednesday's game at Brentford looks tough on paper, but this is a confident Everton side that can look back on recent away wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace.

The Blues can go into the game with a real belief they can come away with something positive, especially with Brentford without a home win in the league since December. The Bees have, however, looked good away from home, highlighted by Friday's 4-0 victory at Leicester.

So it is a good game in prospect and Everton will have to be very wary of Brentford's attacking threat.

That said, the home side will know the Toffees have a rejuvenated striker in Beto, and are creating far more chances.

Everton are now looking up, not down, and although they will have been disappointed to draw with Manchester United on Saturday having been 2-0 up, it is still another point towards mid-table security.

David Moyes says there is still work to do to ensure survival - and that is no bad thing.

No let up, keep it going, not safe yet. It is the right attitude to have and it is working brilliantly at the moment.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

This is going to be close. Brentford have had back-to-back wins over West Ham and Leicester, while Everton's improvement under David Moyes has been dramatic.

Moyes has done an incredible job but the Blues have not suddenly become world-beaters. I do think they will lose some games, and this is one of them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Having won their first two Premier League games against Everton in the 2021-22 campaign, Brentford are now winless in their past five against the Toffees.

Everton boss David Moyes has won one and lost five of his six Premier League meetings with Brentford, all with West Ham from 2021 to 2024. His 0.5 points-per-game against the Bees is his lowest average against any side in his managerial career in the competition.

Real Madrid are keen to sign a centre-back this summer and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite has been discussed. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesdday's full gossip column

Everton boss David Moyes says multiple things happening at the club are contributing to the recent improvement in form.

Speaking in Tuesday's news conference, Moyes said: "You see managers come in and see a bit of 'new manager bounce'. I'm hoping that is not the case because I've been here a long time before.

"It's OK to say [it's because] I've come in, but I think the whole club and the players have had a lift from new ownership and the thought of a new stadium."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Brentford (19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moyes said Jesper Lindstrom, Tim Iroegbunam and "a few of the boys" have been suffering with a fever and flu-like symptoms but they have all recovered.

• Nathan Patterson is back in training after recovering from a hamstring injury but Wednesday's game "will be too quick" for his return.

• Moyes said Everton "have spoken" to PGMOL after the controversial decision to deny them a late penalty in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United: "I still feel exactly the same as I did at the time in the game. I watched it again in the changing room and was really surprised he went to VAR. Obviously we've been in touch to check it out and spoke with PGMOL. It's gone, it's past now. We can't do anything about it. It was disappointing we didn't get it but we move on."

• He believes there is "still work to do" to ensure survival: "We used to talk about 40 points. I think because I'm an old one, I'm going to keep talking about 40 points. I think 40 sounds like the total you had to get. We have to make sure we get to 40."

• More on the future: "All the players will want their futures sorted out and I understand. I've said that until we're completely safe we're not going to look into anyone's contract. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later. This club has just got its future sorted. I want to be positive and say we're going to be in the Premier League but there's still work to do to do that."

• On whether Everton should aspire to be run like Brentford: "I'm going to say no to that answer. I think they're a great-run club. I think what they have done over the years is remarkable. But I think Everton have got bigger aspirations than Brentford."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The unbeaten run rolls on, but it was certainly a question of what could have been when the full-time whistle blew at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton can certainly be blamed for throwing away what seemed a comfortable 2-0 lead to Manchester United, but we found ourselves discussing head-scratching officiating once again.

As a football fan, I get bored of constantly having to scrutinise officials and the impact of VAR on the modern game.

In its current guise, it is evaporating the soul of the sport.

Every time the ball hits the back of the net, that spontaneous eruption of joy is tempered upon the realisation that VAR could soon intervene. You find yourself holding back and never truly letting yourself enjoy the moment.

We saw it with Beto's goal in the first half. A prolonged stoppage for a razor-thin offside review.

It is painful. It is not progress. It is not football.

Fast forward to the awarding of a stoppage-time penalty after a clear shirt pull on Ashley Young and VAR once again proved how it simply is not used correctly by those at Stockley Park.

The famous words "clear and obvious" should be written on the walls of every control room within the now infamous VAR headquarters.

To even send the referee to the screen was baffling and totally unjustified.

It was at that point that I sat back down in my seat, knowing Andy Madley would not have the courage of his convictions to stick with his original decision.

The fall back of technology has muddied the waters. It creates doubt when it should create clarity. It interferes when it should stay quiet. It feels like an orchestrated soap opera.

The Premier League is on a one-way trip to driving supporters away from stadiums.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League draw between Everton and Man Utd.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Dave: Everton absolutely bossed the first half and then went into that strange unsure mode that they seem to reserve when they are two or more goals up. An otherwise poor United side took advantage of the gift. But the real talking point is how VAR saw a 'clear and obvious mistake' for the penalty, and why didn't the referee get shown the angle that showed two clear pulls on Ashley Young's shirt? Ruined the game and an apology should be issued.

Gary: Feels like two points lost but that just shows how far we have come since David Moyes returned to Everton. Feel we should have got Carlos Alcaraz on sooner as opposed to Young, but Jordan Pickford will be kicking himself to concede the goal from Bruno Fernandes as he was out of position.

Graham: How can you dominate a game so much and then come out for the second half and just naively sit back and let the opposition come on to you? Moyes had a liking for this strategy in his first tenure and so often paid the price. This is not what Everton fans want to see, especially at Goodison Park, and hopefully the two points thrown away will be a wake-up call.

Samuel: Another great performance for the majority of the game but we gave United an opening and they took it. However, I don't think you're likely to see a clearer penalty this season both with the shirt pull from Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire's arm round Young. No clue why it was overturned. Complete robbery!

United fans

Stephen: Ruben Amorim is asking his players, who are devoid of any confidence or self-belief, to play with bravery on the ball and dominate possession. They are currently frightened before they even step foot on the pitch and the last thing they want is the ball at their feet. The wiping out of the penalty right at the end of the game gives the manager and the players a scraped draw that could just give us a foothold to keep going.

Martyn: United were far inferior and seemed incapable of matching Everton in all aspects in the first half. Totally different in second half, especially after Alejandro Garnacho's introduction. Casemiro also did well further forward when Fernandes moved back. A little fortunate with Andre Onana making one or two important saves, along with the VAR decision. Two great strikes from Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.

Steve: Just same old, same old. I don't understand how Amorim can continue with his tactics when they clearly aren't working. Let's play football in a way that the players can show their ability, not something that worked in the Portuguese league. Don't be stubborn at Manchester United's expense.

Mark: Very poor first half but recovered nicely, showed some spirit and should have won. I'm afraid Amorin's negative comments are not doing the team or supporters any favours. He needs to learn and stop immediately.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's Jake O'Brien says his side "were the better team" in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United and the point "feels like a loss".

The Toffees squandered a 2-0 lead but were controversially denied a late penalty after VAR intervened to reverse the referees' on-field decision that Ashley Young was fouled.

"He's [the referee] got decisions wrong, not just the penalty but many that didn't go our way and could have changed the game," O'Brien said.

"We came away with a point but, at the end of the day, it feels like a loss because we were the better team.

"For 20 minutes we switched off, decisions didn't go our way, and they punished us for that.

"We came into the game confident, on a good run of games, knowing we can play and defend. It's just moments like we had at the end - 10 or 20 minutes where we just switched off and maybe a few lads were tired, and they punished us."

Since appearing as a substitute in David Moyes' first game since returning as manager in January, O'Brien has started seven consecutive matches and is relishing his role in the squad.

"I'm definitely enjoying playing, I'm feeling part of the team and am on a good run of games," he added.

"I've done all right but I've got a lot more in me to show as well. Moyes has been great since he's come in. He wants us playing more attacking football, we are more stable as a team and are giving our best in every game.

Listen to the full chat on the Everton feed on BBC Sounds