Everton 2-4 Brentford: Igor Thiago keeps Golden Boot race a contest with hat trick

Igor Thiago is doing his darnedest to make the Golden Boot race a race this season, as the big, bruising Brazilian bagged a hat trick and led Brentford to a 4-2 victory away to Everton on Sunday.

WATCH — Everton v Brentford full match replay

Brentford were brilliant early in both halves with Thiago scoring the opener in the 11th minute, tacking on the Bees’ third in the 51st and finishing finishing the job on a breakaway in the 88th. Nathan Collins headed home his first of the season from a corner kick in the 50th to make it 2-0 in the midst of Thiago’s tear. Jack Grealish found Beto and Thierno Barry with a pair of brilliant crosses in the 66th and 91st, but the Toffees were three goals down each time they tallied and looked a long way gone at that point.

Thiago is is up to 14 goals on the season (one of two in double digits), but he still trails Erling Haaland by five after recording his first PL hat trick. The victory sends Brentford (30 points) up to 7th in the table, just a point off Manchester United for 5th place (possible Champions League place) after 20 games. Everton (28 points) are 11th.

What’s next?

• Brentford vs Sunderland — Wednesday, 2:30 pm ET
• Everton vs Wolves — Wednesday, 2:30 pm ET

Everton vs Brentford live updates - by Andy Edwards

Everton vs Brentford final score: 2-4

Goalscorers: Igor Thiago (11', 52', 88') Nathan Collins (50'), Beto (66'), Thierno Barry (90'+1)

GOAL! Everton 2-4 Brentford: Barry heads home Grealish’s cross (90'+1)

Barry heads Everton within two of Brentford

Thierno Barry scores his third goal of the season but it's nothing more than a consolation strike for Everton, who trail 4-2 to Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

GOAL! Everton 1-4 Brentford: Thiago gets his hat trick (88')

Thiago's hat-trick gives Brentford 4-1 lead

Igor Thiago's chip over Jordan Pickford finds its way into the back of the net to secure his hat-trick and a three-goal lead over Everton.

GOAL! Everton 1-3 Brentford: Grealish finds Beto with a cross (66')

Beto pulls one for back for Everton v. Brentford

Beto gets the Toffees on the board to reduce his side's deficit to two goals against Brentford in the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

GOAL! Everton 0-3 Brentford: Thiago takes it from Schade and scores again (51')

Thiago's brace has Brentford 3-0 up over Everton

It's Igor Thiago again with his 13th goal of the season to give Brentford a commanding 3-0 lead against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

GOAL! Everton 0-2 Brentford: Collins heads home from a corner kick (50')

Collins doubles Brentford's lead against Everton

Brentford are flying at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Nathan Collins rises highest to deliver the Bees' second goal of the afternoon against Everton.

GOAL! Everton 0-1 Brentford: Janelt wins it back and quickly finds Thiago (11')

Thiago tucks away Brentford's opener v. Everton

Igor Thiago nets his 12th goal of the season with a tidy first-time finish to give Brentford a 1-0 lead over the Toffees.

Everton starting lineup

Pickford - O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko - Iroegbunam, Garner, McNeil - Dibling, Grealish, Barry

Brentford starting lineup

Kelleher - Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey - Janelt, Jensen, Yarmoliuk - Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago

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How to watch Everton vs Brentford live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 10am ET Sunday (January 4)
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock

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The Toffees won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest last time out and David Moyes’ side continue to be solid defensively and are working a few things out in attack despite missing key players.

Brentford are a real handful to play against and they drew 0-0 at home to Spurs on Thursday as they continue to overachieve and sit one point behind Everton heading into this game.

Everton team news, focus

Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are at AFCON, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite, Carlos Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman are out injured. Michael Keane is pushing to be available, while Thierno Barry will likely get the nod to start up top.

Brentford team news, focus

Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara are away at AFCON, while Josh Dasilva, Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are out injured. Once again the duo of Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago will look to cause havoc on the counter.

Everton vs Brentford prediction

This should be a beauty of a game as both teams will go for it and back themselves to win it. Everton will prevail. Everton 2-1 Brentford.