Playing up a man for more than half couldn’t help Everton get on the board, instead leading Brentford to a first clean sheet of the Premier League season in a scoreless draw at Goodison Park that saw the Toffees booed off the pitch at full time on Saturday.
Brentford’s 17th point moves them 10th, while Everton’s 11th point has them 15th. That’s three points clear of the bottom three.
Brentford should tie down Thomas Frank
Yes, the headline-writer knows that Frank has a deal with the Bees through the 2026-27 season and that that’s ages away in the managerial world, but maybe they should literally find rope and keep his agent from being able to speak with any other teams. The Dane is that good, and matches like this flash a part of his magnificent managerial acumen we don’t always get to see from him. The Brentford boss knows how to make adjustments in attack, and multi-goal games are old hat for the Bees on Frank’s watch, but to see the relative calm and control from his side while down a man for more than 45 minutes is special. Everton are far from robust in attack under Sean Dyche, but it’s remarkable that Frank’s set-up held the Toffees to just 0.73 xG in the second half. Really good performance. Elite boss.
Everton vs Brentford player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Everton vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Everton vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Everton go to Manchester United at 8:30am ET Sunday, Dec. 1, a day after Brentford host Leicester City.
How to watch Everton vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET Saturday (November 23)
Venue: Goodison Park — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Everton vs Brentford final score: 0-0
Everton vs Brentford live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Everton 0-0 Brentford
Brentford getting there
These performances underline Thomas Frank’s brilliance nearly as well as the four-goal shows.
Everton are helping, of course, as Sean Dyche is not known for delivering goals from positions of strength.
Less than a quarter-hour to a valuable point for Frank’s men.
Mykolenko flashes wide as tension mounts
We’re nearing the point in the match where the heavy pressure flips from Brentford to hold on to a point to Everton take advantage of their man advantage.
About a half-hour to play as Ndiaye cues up a half-chance for Mykolenko that goes wide.
Cue a Brentford chance the other way, as Mathias Jensen can’t put a hopeful shot on Jordan Pickford’s goal.
Halftime — Everton 0-0 Brentford
The Norgaard red card does feel like it’s made this incredibly daunting for Brentford to get a point.
Everton were superior before the Norgaard foul, and finish the half with 13 shots to the Bees’ four.
As possession theoretically swings into Everton’s favor, the Toffees simply must take three points to swing into a mid-table fight rather than languish in another relegation scrap.
Christian Norgaard red card (video)! Should Norgaard have been sent off?
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is near his goal line, and goes airborne trying to reach a ball. Christian Norgaard is trying to get on the end of it.
The sliding Norgaard hits the leg of Pickford, studs up, and VAR is asking Chris Kavanagh to go to the pitchside monitor. Red card. Tough, as Norgaard likely was only trying to score, but probably fair.
What do you think? And a thought experiment: If the Dane gets a touch on the ball and it scores, but still catches Pickford, would it still have been red?
0-0, 44'.
Mark Flekken comes up big!
This was a great entry pass from Dwight McNeil and a matching cutting run from Dominic Calvert-Lewin between two Brentford defenders.
Mark Flekken keeps his left leg strong to limit the damage to a corner with a near-post save of Calvert-Lewin’s strong shot. Corner is handled by the Bees.
0-0, 27'.
Chance for Brentford
Sepp van den Berg reacts well in traffic to lash a volley toward goal, but the angle was tough and he misses the far post.
0-0, 14'.
Toffees twice denied by Collins
Vitalii Mykolenko whips in a cross that Bees back Nathan Collins heads away but it’s well-trapped by Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegalese danced toward the goal but his shot is partially blocked by Collins. Good moments for the Toffees.
0-0, 6'.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Doucoure, Lindstrom, Ndiaye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
Brentford lineup
Flekken, van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Janelt, Norgaard, Jensen, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo, Wissa
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Youssef Chermiti (ankle), Dele Alli (groin), Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle), James Garner (back), Seamus Coleman (thigh), Armando Broja (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Jarrad Branthwaite (groin)
Brentford team news, focus
OUT: Josh Dasilva (knee), Kristoffer Ajer (foot), Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Gustavo Nunes (lower back)
Everton vs Brentford prediction
Everton will try to limit Brentford’s pressing and countering opportunities, but at some point they have to have the ball, at which point they will be pressed and countered. Probably quite successfully. Everton 1-2 Brentford.
