Idrissa Gana Gueye’s second-half goal gave him as many Premier League goals this month than he’s had in years and secured another Premier League season for Everton in a 1-0 win over Brentford at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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Both sides officially sealed safety this weekend, but Gana Gueye’s heroics make it three-straight wins for the Toffees and are his only Premier League goals since final days of the 2017-18 season. He played for PSG from the 2019-20 season through the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
WATCH EVERTON vs BRENTFORD FULL MATCH REPLAY
Gana Gueye scored against Forest on April 21 and went 90 minutes in a 2-0 defeat of Liverpool three days later, as
the three PL wins in seven days give them 36 points on the season, 11 more than Luton Town. The Hatters only have three matches left and also cannot catch Brentford and their 35 points.
Punished and prevailing — The Everton 2023-24 story
Let’s be honest: Everton at no point in the season really looked like a bottom three side. Sure, there were bad performances but the main problems plaguing Sean Dyche’s men were off-field as the points deductions had them staring at a table footing not befitting their actual side. In fact, the early parts of the season saw Everton as more of an easy mid-table side that could threaten European qualification with decent finishing quality (which they decidedly did not get). Instead of a conversation regarding whether Sean Dyche could take them from mid-table to Europe, it’s difficult to say anything other than good things for the Ginger Mourinho given how he navigated a tumultuous and terribly difficult situation at Goodison Park. The Toffees were punished for breaking rules, but always had too much gumption to fall prey to those penalties.
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 Luton Town at 3pm ET Friday in a match that now means way more to the Hatters than their visitors.
Brentford host Fulham at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Everton vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 12:30 pm ET, Saturday
TV Channel: NBC
Online: Stream live via NBC.com & Peacock
Everton vs Brentford live updates — By Nick Mendola
Everton vs Brentford final score: 1-0
Goalscorers: Gana Gueye (60')
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Brentford (60th minute)
What’s gotten into Idrissa Gana Gueye?
Jarrad Branthwaite scrambles a desperation shot in traffic that is blocked back into traffic.
For the second-straoight week it’s Gueye racing onto a ball and smashing it into the upper reaches of the goal.
Everton are a VAR review and 30 minutes from safety. And the review... is in their favor.
McNeil smashes the bar!
Dwight McNeil has this in him — we know that — and his long-distance shot rockets into the cross bar as a 53rd-minute warning to the Bees.
Great save!
Mahias Jensen makes a superb pass to Ivan Toney, who keeps space from Ben Godfrey and rips a shot that Pickford does well to block away from danger.
Halftime — Everton 0-0 Brentford
Everton took 12 of the game’s 16 shots but the teams have only combined for 0.81 xG.
Match finding its flow
Brentford’s had most of the ball but the first 26 minutes have only seen four shot attempts, none of which have gone on target.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young, Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil, Doucoure, Chermiti.
Brentford lineup
Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon, Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen, Mbeumo, Wissa, Toney.
Everton focus, team news
OUT: Beto (concussion), Dele Alli (groin), Lewis Dobbin (ankle), Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (illness), Vitalii Mykolenko (ankle)
Brentford focus, team news
OUT: Ben Mee (ankle - out for season), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (torn ACL - out for season), Neal Maupay (loan - unable to face parent club) | QUESTIONABLE: Ivan Toney (groin)