Everton are taking on Brentford this weekend, and one statistic has emerged to suggest it could be a real battle.
It feels like an age since the Toffees last played in the Premier League, and fans are itching to see the team return to action.
Moyes’ current deal expires next year… 🤔
Everton manager David Moyes.
That 3-0 win against Chelsea before the international break really whetted the appetite, and frustratingly it probably came at the wrong time.
But fans only have to wait a few more days, as Everton look to defeat one of their European rivals.
And at this stage of the season, it simply doesn’t matter how Everton play – it’s all about getting points on the board.
Quite possibly, Brentford vs Everton on Saturday could be one of the ugliest games of the season, amid the emergence of one statistic.
One thing looks certain – the ball will be in the air in Brentford vs Everton
Caoimhín Kelleher takes a goal kick.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Brentford have been having a tremendous season so far under Keith Andrews.
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They lost key players last summer and a lot of people had tipped them to be in a relegation battle.
But they’ve defied the odds and, like Everton, are firmly in the hunt for European football.
Both teams will be desperate to win on Saturday – but it’s probably safe to say that this game will not be easy on the eye.
BBC Sport have shared a few statistics about the two teams ahead of their clash – and one thing that’s highly likely to happen is the ball going up in the air a lot.
Apparently, Everton (684) and Brentford (626) are the only two sides in the Premier League this season to have won 600+ aerial duels, while also being two of the four sides to have played the most long passes this term (Brentford, 1,801 and Everton, 1,648).
This perhaps suggests that free-flowing football on the floor will not be on the agenda, and that it won’t necessarily be a fixture for the football purist.
But that, of course, won’t matter one bit to fans if Everton take all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Everton need to keep Igor Thiago quiet
Arguably the biggest threat in Brentford’s team is Igor Thiago, who is running Erling Haaland close for the Golden Boot.
He has 19 goals so far, and has been proving himself as a real handful for defenders this season.
Thiago, who is the kind of transfer Everton will look to replicate this summer, is as physical as they come and will be a test for the likes of James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite depending on who plays.
As per WhoScored, he wins 3.1 aerial duels per 90.
Igor Thiago playing for Brentford.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
On their day though, Everton’s centre-backs are formidable.
Hopefully, they’ll all bring their A-game this weekend, in what is the Toffees’ biggest game of the season so far.
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