Happy New Year, Evertonians
Toffees fans head into 2026 with a feeling of cautious optimism after 12 months of progress on and off the pitch.
The table may be tight, but for Everton to end the calendar year in eighth place shows how far the team has come in a short space of time, with the turbulence of recent seasons hopefully consigned to history. Indeed, the calendar-year table also has Everton in eighth, which, combined with David Moyes being back in the dugout, feels very mid-noughties.
Moyes has
shown just how astute a manager he is by turning the club around so quickly. Yes, there has been considerable investment, but Everton have spent plenty of cash in recent years and gone backwards. Plus, there are still plenty of holes in a thin squad. Moyes, though, has the knack of squeezing every last drop out of his players — as demonstrated by that battling win at Nottingham Forest with 10 players absent. West Ham’s plight at the bottom of the table is another layer of evidence.
The question now is whether Everton can sustain their form and push for a European spot. Sunday’s game against Brentford is quickly followed by another home match against bottom side Wolves, with Leeds the next league visitors to Hill Dickinson on the 26th, giving Everton a great chance to cement their place in the top half.
The opposition
I have to admit I was one of the cynics who thought Keith Andrews might well have been sacked by now when he was the surprise choice to succeed Thomas Frank as Brentford boss.
The former Ireland midfielder — who looks like he should have played for Everton at some point in his career — was promoted from set-piece coach to take the role, his first senior management position. But Brentford are one of those clubs that always seem to know what they’re doing, so there was clearly method behind the appointment. That has certainly borne out in the results, with the Bees one point and one place behind Everton.
However, their position is very much based on home form, with just six of their 27 points won on the road. Only Wolves have lost more than the seven games Brentford have lost away from home this season.
Could Everton also have a slight advantage thanks to the TV schedulers? The Toffees have had two extra days to prepare for this game, with Brentford’s last match a 0–0 draw at home to Spurs on New Year’s Day.
Previous meeting
Brentford 1–1 Everton, 26 February 2025
Everton struck late to earn a point the last time the sides met in February. Yoane Wissa took advantage of some slack defending to give Brentford the lead just before half-time, but Jake O’Brien’s diving header with 13 minutes left secured a draw.
Team news
Jack Grealish has resumed full training and is in contention to start after only being fit enough for the bench against Forest following a virus. Harrison Armstrong is also available after being recalled from his loan spell at Preston, while Michael Keane could return after missing the Forest game.
Charly Alcaraz is out and joins Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman on the sidelines. Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye remain away at AFCON.
Final word
Brentford’s poor away form gives Everton a great chance to get 2026 off to a flyer. But whenever I go into a game with positive expectations I tend to get stung (pun intended), so I’m not getting too excited. Still, anything less than four points from the next two games should be considered a disappointment given the standards Everton have set so far.
