Richard Browne: Absolutely cowardly from Everton's owners. Where do you find someone better? Steve Bruce?

It is a short statement from Everton, saying:

Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as First Team manager.

Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the Club with immediate effect.

An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.

Everton

Everton have confirmed the departure of manager Rafael Benitez just seven months after joining the club.

Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on Final Score

Huge relief around Anfield. They were wondering where this goal would come from. Outstanding defending from Brentford for 43 minutes. They were undone at the corner.

Kristoffer Ajer switches off and did not have his eyes on the ball. A simple header for Fabinho.

Leeds lead at the break after responding well to a couple of injury setbacks.

West Ham are certainly not out of it, however.

Fabinho's goal is the difference so far.

It should be 3-1 to Leeds as Dan James is put through but he shoots straight at Lukasz Fabianski. What a chance that was!

Paul: Leicester had games called off, Burnley did, Liverpool did yet for some reason it’s only Arsenal people are moaning about. The rules are there to be used and if you have an issue with games getting called off then the fault is with the PL not the clubs themselves.

Robin Koch, caught by a wild Michail Antonio challenge earlier, brings down the West Ham forward and he is shown a yellow card as a result.

Jarrod Bowen heads well over from another West Ham corner as the hosts continue to try and find another equaliser before the break.

Into the final minute of the first 45.

Joel Matip goes on one of his jinking runs from centre-back and his shot is deflected before flying into the arms of the Brentford keeper.

The visitors go straight up the other end, Andy Robertson makes a crucial block near the goalline but the flag is up for offside on Ivan Toney. That was tight!

West Ham almost equalise as Pablo Fornals plays a brilliant ball through the Leeds defence and Declan Rice strides through to latch onto it. He nudges it past Ilian Meslier but the angle is tight and the midfielder puts the shot into the sidenetting.

What is Joel Matip doing!?

He passes it straight to Ivan Toney. He hits it early and it deflects dangerously wide.

Shandon Baptiste then has it on the left but Brentford can't capitalise.

Jamie Brilley: You do feel if Leeds haven't been as streetsmart asking for postponements when you look at our teamsheet. We are being punished for our integrity to the competition.

Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on Final Score

Outstanding defending from Brentford, the only thing missing from them is an out-ball. It has been a really good display, they just need to hold the ball up longer.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turns away from Ethan Pinnock. He tries to slide in Diogo Jota but there's two or three Brentford players back to make the block. They needed to as well.

Trent Alexander-Arnold gives it straight to Bryan Mbeumo. Brentford can break!

Ivan Toney is slipped in but Joel Matip makes an excellent tackle just as he's about to shoot. A half-chance for Brentford...

The camera cuts to a tremendously miserable looking Leeds bench, but who can blame them? The visitors were well on top until a couple of injuries forced changes and they've struggled ever since.

Tough times for Leeds at the moment as they are down to the bare bones. Pop down Elland Road and you could be called in for a game.