Igor Thiago moved to within one goal of Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race but Brentford fell a few minutes short of three pivotal points that would have put them in prime position to qualify for Europe for the first time in club history, as the Bees drew Everton 2-2 on Saturday.
WATCH — Brentford v Everton full match replay
Thiago’s brace, which takes his season tally to 21 goals and comes right on the heels of making his Brazil debut (and scoring his first international goal) last week, looked like enough to beat the Toffees in an unlikely European six-pointer, but Everton fought their way back from a goal down for the second time on the day and stole a point instead. Thiago made it 1-0 from the penalty spot in the 3rd minute after Jordan Pickford took down Kevin Schade 80 seconds into the game, and the big bruiser put Brentford ahead again in the 76th when Michael Kayode’s shot glanced off his thigh and found the back of the net.
Beto headed home Everton’s first equalizer in the 26th minute and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall lashed a low shot through the driving rain in the 91st.
Brentford (7th) and Everton (8th) remain level on 47 points, with six games left to play. Brighton (46) and Bournemouth (45) are hot on their heels and eyeing either Europa League or Conference League qualification themselves.
What’s next?
- Brentford vs Fulham — Saturday, 7:30 am ET
- Everton vs Liverpool — Sunday, 9 am ET
Brentford vs Everton live updates - by Andy Edwards
Brentford vs Everton final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Igor Thiago (3', 77'), Beto (26'), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (90'+1)
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Everton: Dewsbury-Hall lashes one through the rain in stoppage time (90'+1)
GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Everton: Kayode’s shot glances off Thiago and goes in (77')
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Everton: Beto heads home from close range (26')
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Everton: Thiago scores his 20th after Pickford takes down Schade (3')
Brentford starting XI
Kelleher - Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter - Yarmolyuk, Jensen, Dansgaard - Ouattara, Schade, Thiago
Everton starting XI
Pickford - O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko - Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall - McNeil, Ndiaye, Beto
How to watch Brentford vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (April 11)
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium — West London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA
Keith Andrews has had a brilliant first season in charge of the Bees, and his first campaign as a head coach couldn’t have gone much better. They sit in seventh place, just three points off the top five and Champions League qualification, with seven games to go. They drew 0-0 at Leeds before the break and have won just once in their last six league games (drawing four of those) so need to grab a few more wins down the stretch to seal European qualification for the first time in their history.
Everton are only behind Brentford on goal difference going into this game and David Moyes has them defending superbly and they look so dangerous on the counter. A morale-boosting 3-0 win at home against Chelsea before the international break has the Toffees in great spirits and they seem most likely to be the team from a huge chasing pack who could finish fifth.
Brentford team news, focus
Josh Dasilva, Antoni Milambo and Fabio Carvalho all remain out, while Vitaly Janelt, Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry are working their way back to fitness and Mikkel Damsgaard is a doubt. We all know the drill with Brentford by now as they will look to counter quickly with Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara so dangerous on the break. If the Bees can keep things tight at the other end, you know they can always win a game via set pieces or a counter late on.
Everton team news, focus
Everton playing very similar to Brentford and Moyes has Jordan Pickford in fine form in goal ahead of a very solid defensive unit. James Garner has been excellent dictating the tempo of games in midfield and Iliman Ndiaye (who is a doubt for this game) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have been superb in attacking midfield. Everton need Beto to build on his goal and great performance against Chelsea before the break.
Brentford vs Everton prediction
This feels like it will be a really fun game and Everton will just edge it as they are full of confidence. Brentford 2-3 Everton.
