Everton

We asked for your views on Saturday's match between Everton and Brentford.

Here are some of your answers:

Everton fans

Lee: It wasn't a good game to watch, but it was what we needed to carry on in the Premier League. There needs to be a massive change in our identity as a team next season. If we keep the same squad and management, the same things will happen! We need a clean slate and new quality personnel.

Lucy: It wasn't the most beautiful game of football that I've ever witnessed from these boys, but I don't believe that is the most important aspect of our play at the moment. It's clear that all members of the team hold passion for our club and it makes me proud to be a member. Onwards and upwards I say - let the deductions spur us on.

Michael: We were great in defence. The need for a quality midfield and a couple of forwards is obvious. Jack Harrison is lacklustre at times and he seems to lack confidence. It's not just him, 19-year-old Youssef Chermiti needs a lot more experience as well. He makes mistakes and holds back too much. There are a couple of players that are like puppets with uncoordinated legs.

Mike: To achieve safety with three games to go, with a points deduction and this squad, is some feat. Dyche deserves immense credit because quite often the bench consists of two goalkeepers and two untried youngsters. Add to that the injuries and I doubt many managers could hold it together under the pressures he has had to deal with. He has earned the right to take us forward!

Brentford fans

Paul: We played like a team that was safe. I don't quite understand why Thomas Frank didn't start the same 11 players that beat Luton. I think Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard can count themselves very unlucky. Toney's heart isn't with the club anymore, he was poor and Wissa isn't the same player when he plays. Toney's value is dropping in every game he plays in.

Ralph: If it wasn't for Jordan Pickford, this game would have probably ended at least a draw or possibly an away win!

Offensively, Everton have been underwhelming at best with only Sheffield United scoring less goals than the Toffees this season

On the other hand, their defensive record has been exceptional, as shown on Saturday's Match of the Day episode.

Pundit Alan Shearer said: "With all of the uncertainty, with the new stadium and the new ownership, the way Sean Dyche has managed that situation has been incredible. He's doing an unbelievable job.

"They've only scored 37 goals, but defensively, they are very tough and mean. They don't give much away. What a job Sean Dyche has done."

Catch up on the rest of Saturday's analysis here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Man Utd 1-1 Burnley

• Everton 1-0 Brentford

Everton may have to sell defender Jarrad Branthwaite to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, opening the door for a move to Manchester United. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to BBC Sport after securing the Toffees' Premier League status for another year: “Incredibly pleased and proud. They are a group of players who have had knocks all season.

"Four out of five clean sheets and wins, with all the mounting noise after the Chelsea game, is incredible. The mentality of the players is fantastic. I'm super pleased and very proud.

"It has been an exhausting week for many reasons, with highs from the big win on Wednesday. The emotion that goes into that, I wondered how the players would respond.

"With our xG, we have been questioned about how many times we haven’t won games. It has paid us back [now].

"They [the players] have had a massive week. There is a lot of pressure and intensity on the week and [whether] you can do it again. In the second half, we controlled the game pretty well.”

On the fact that Everton are mathematically safe from relegation now: "Yeah, of course, that old chestnut - 'You were safe and all that'.

"You were all desperate for Luton to win and for us to lose - this isn't my first rodeo."

James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford have been speaking to Sky Sports after confirming their Premier League status for next season with the 1-0 win against Brentford.

Defender James Tarkowski said: "It [the 6-0 defeat against Chelsea] was the toughest moment of the season. It has been amazing. It has been some week with three wins.

"Today was the toughest game of the three. The lads turned up again [and were] incredible. The work Idrissa Gueye gets through is incredible."

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford added: "Perfect. A big bounce-back from Chelsea. Three games to go and enjoy it [relegation survival].

"There's been a lot of pressure over the last two years, the deductions this year, [but] the lads dug in massively. A perfect week. Three wins and three clean sheets.

"I criticise myself, but I made some crucial saves tonight - the Toney one [stands out]."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Fulham midfielder Michael Brown has been discussing the Toffees' performance against Brentford on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is not always the prettiest, it is not the most creative, but it is effective and it gets results.

"Everton were in a good position at the start of the season before the points deduction, it was a big blow and they had to recover and they have done so.

"A really good day for Sean Dyche and his team. It wasn't the greatest of games, with just the one shot on target, but they got the job done."

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between Everton and Brentford in the Premier League.

• After failing to win any of their first three Premier League meetings with Brentford (D1 L2), Everton have won each of the last three encounters. The Bees have only had a longer losing run against Newcastle United in the competition (an ongoing run of four games).

• Everton have won each of their past four home Premier League games without conceding. It is their longest such run in a single season since their final four games of the 2018-19 campaign under Marco Silva.

• Brentford have now lost 18 Premier League games this season, which is their joint-most in one Premier League campaign along with 2021-22. They last lost more games in a top-flight campaign in 1946-47 (26).

• The Toffees have scored 18 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties), with only Arsenal netting more (20).

• Idrissa Gueye has scored three Premier League goals for Everton this season, as many as in his first five campaigns in the competition combined. He has now netted two goals in his past three games in the competition, as many as in his previous 98 appearances.

In-form Everton guaranteed their Premier League survival with three games to spare by edging to victory over lacklustre Brentford.

Sean Dyche's side benefited from Luton losing at Wolves earlier on Saturday, and this result at Goodison Park allowed Everton to leapfrog Brentford into 15th place - 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

Idrissa Gueye was the surprise match-winner, smashing home a first-time finish into the top corner on the hour mark, after reacting quickest to Brentford's defenders failing to clear the ball.

A first half severely lacking in quality was summed up by neither side being able to find a shot on target. Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure should have done better with a volley which he screwed wide from 10 yards out.

The contest improved in the second period and Everton's England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an excellent stop to deny the returning Ivan Toney.

At the other end, Everton were inches away from breaking the deadlock when Dwight McNeil's thunderous drive from long range rattled the crossbar, before Gueye's goal ensured the Blues maintained their proud top-flight status.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Everton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Brentford fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on Andy Bell and Steve Queralt from Ride, who support Arsenal and Tottenham.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I always felt Everton's season depended a lot on Dominic Calvert-Lewin but it felt like he was in the wilderness for months before he put in such a brilliant performance against Liverpool on Wednesday.

He was such a handful all game and showed what a good a player he is. I was left thinking where have you been for so long?

You have to wonder how much Everton have got left in the tank after their efforts to win the Merseyside derby but a lot of the pressure is off them now.

It is the same for Brentford after their run of results - both of these teams are almost safe because Luton would need a miracle to catch them.

I am not sure what is going on with Bees striker Ivan Toney, because he was on the bench for a couple of games before missing the win over Luton with a hip injury, but they don't seem to need him at the moment.

This is a hard one to call because a win would effectively cement survival for whoever gets it, but a draw is also a decent result for both teams - and that might mean this is quite a cagey affair.

Andy's prediction: 2-3

They have both been winning games and again they are next to each other in the table so I am going for a barnstorming Brentford win.

Steve's prediction: 0-2

I have a bit of a soft spot for Brentford because I live quite close to their ground. So, I'm backing them, just based on that really.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and we will bring you every moment.

Follow live text updates and listen online here

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

Manchester United v Burnley - Listen on BBC Sounds from 15:00

Everton v Brentford - Listen on BBC Sounds from 17:30

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Everton host Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, 17:30 BST.

• Everton are looking to complete only their second league double over Brentford, previously doing so in the 1952-53 second division.

• None of the 10 league meetings between Everton and Brentford at Goodison Park have ended in a draw, with the Toffees winning seven of these to the Bees' three.

• Brentford have won their past two Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 18 combined. They last won three in a row in October and November.

• Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in nine goals in his past 10 Premier League starts (four goals, five assists), while Brentford have won 39% of their league games when the Cameroon international has started this season, compared to 12.5% when he has not.

• Brentford's Yoane Wissa has scored five goals in his past five Premier League away games, as many as he had in his previous 29 appearances on the road in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure says the injustice of the point deductions this season has fuelled the team to win games and avoid relegation.

The Toffees have been docked a total of eight points for breaches of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules this season, but have appealed against a two-point deduction for the three-year period to 2022-23.

"We definitely feel the injustice from the Premier League to us," Doucoure told BBC Radio Merseyside. "But we said we just need to hit the ground running and win games.

"This sort of thing hurts but it is out of our control. We can only control what happens on the pitch. It makes the team connected.

"We just said 'guys it is a joke' and we have to play well and win games and move on."

Doucoure added that despite this season's off-field issues, last season was personally more difficult for him.

"This season we have been hit by points deductions but last season was completely different in terms of the football."

Under Frank Lampard the midfielder was sidelined and unable to help his team as they continued to drop down the table.

The Toffees sacked Lampard in January 2023 with the club 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety. Sean Dyche's arrival proceeded and they scraped survival on the final day of the season.

In contrast, if this season's points deductions had not occurred, they would have been mathematically safe by now and in 14th place.

"We had a great season before the point deductions," added Doucoure. "It is quite hard to be hit by so many things but you have to be ready for it as a professional footballer.

"I am always ready to commit to my job and do my best for the team."

Sean Dyche has been reflecting on a positive message received from Green Day frontman Billie Joe.

Manchester United are confident a bid of between £60-70m will be enough to sign 21-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite before 30 June, allowing Everton to include the fee in their 2023-24 accounts and avoid any further points deductions. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Hearts as big as the city. Smiles as wide as the Mersey Tunnel. And that’s just the players.

My short summary will not do any justice to both them and the manager after what we witnessed last night at Goodison Park.

It was a performance for the ages. A night that will live long in the memories of all Evertonians.

To put it simply, that was Everton Football Club encapsulated in 90-plus minutes of drama and mayhem.

The heart, grit, determination and work rate separated the two sides. You would be forgiven for thinking our opponents had secured mid-table security, instead of being involved in an end-of-season title race.

The fact we have spoiled any title ambitions they may have had, is simply a positive side show to our own club's story.

This is about us and nothing else.

It’s been 14 long years since we last won a home derby. It is fair to say that pent-up emotion was released in spades on the final whistle.

Our fans were simply incredible. The noise was glass-shatteringly loud all night. Goodison was rocked to its creaking foundations. We deserved it. Every single second of it.

Goodison Park will soon be consigned to the pages of history.

Last night will be remembered as one of her spine-tingling best.

Mike can be found at the Unholy Trinity, external

Sean Dyche says Dominic Calvert-Lewin's performance against Liverpool was "outstanding" and he deserves to be recognised as a top English centre forward.

The 27-year-old, who has faced criticism this season after a long barren spell in front of goal scored Everton's second on a victorious night at Goodison Park.

"I thought he was excellent," said Dyche. "His physical performance was outstanding."

Calvert-Lewin has faced multiple injury setbacks in recent years and has lost his place in the England squad.

Dyche believes this season has been more positive for his number nine and the club's medical team are working closely with him to avoid any potential long-term injuries.

"This season has not been too bad on the injury front," he said. "But it shows it does take time mentally and physically to clear your mind of that and start to play freely again."

He has scored six goals in 29 Premier League appearances this season, making him the club's top scorer.

Dyche added: "I said to him after the match, 'That is the sort of performance that gets you back around the England squad'.

"It is too early yet and I am not making any bold statement because Gareth Southgate has a lot of players to choose from, but certainly with that kind of performance he should be recognised as a top centre forward."

Calvert-Lewin has 11 caps and four goals for England since netting on his debut against Wales in 2020.