Everton: Team news and predicted XI ahead of Brentford | OneFootball

Everton will be aiming to end a five-game unbeaten run when they take on newly-promoted Brentford in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Toffees slumped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Manchester City last time out, but the performance won’t have been the only thing giving Rafa Benitez nightmares in the days since.

Key forward Richarlison picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign, ruling him out of the trip to west London through suspension, while in-form winger Demarai Gray had to be substituted after picking up an abductor issue.

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The 25-year-old is set to join the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes on the injury list, although star midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure could make his return.

Benitez’s extensive list of absentees in the final third of the pitch should present another opportunity for the £43k-per-week summer signing Salomon Rondon to score his first goal for the club as he features in a patched-up forward line.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects the Blues to line up at the Brentford Community Stadium, with just two changes from the side that started against City…

In goal, England’s current No.1 Jordan Pickford will keep his place between the sticks after enjoying a stellar 2021 for both club and country.

The defence will be made up of a rather familiar back four, with Lucas Digne, Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman completing the defence unit as they go in search of their first clean sheet on the road since 28 August.

Benitez will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to selecting his desired midfield four.  Doucoure is unlikely to be able to feature from the off, while youngsters Lewis Dobbin and Tyler Onyango will surely have to settle for a place on the substitute’s bench.

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Therefore, the struggling Alex Iwobi, Allan, Fabian Delph and Anthony Gordon are expected to form the engine room tasked with exerting some control over proceedings in the capital.

Ahead of them will be Andros Townsend and Rondon.

Jim White during his previous spell under Benitez’s tutelage at Newcastle United, and he’ll be hoping to rediscover that form today.