Everton v Brentford – Match Preview
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 5th February 2022, 3pm K.O
Goodison Park
Frank Lampard’s tenure as Everton manager gets underway this weekend as Everton face Thomas Tuchel’s Brentford in the FA Cup 4th round at Goodison Park.
There has been some debate in the media throughout the past week regarding whether the former Derby County and Chelsea man was good enough to replace Rafa Benitez. However, if the Blues have a positive February and manage to remain in the cup then these doubts will almost vanish as The Toffees aim to have a period of progression that many thought would happen under the guidance of Italian Carlo Ancelotti.
The 43-year-old was announced on Monday and his first few days have seen the club secure the services of attacking midfielders Donny Van De Beek, the Dutchman is on loan from Manchester United, and Dele Alli who signs on a 2.5 year deal from Antonio Conte’s Spurs. Away from the players Lampard has brought in, it will be interesting to see how left-back Mykolenko manages to benefit from the aid of coaches Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole. Everton’s coaching set-up now holds former players who you may expect to be in an all-time best 11 of England’s top division.
Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri spoke of the unity that needs to engulf the blue half of Liverpool if the club is to have success. This can be done by ensuring Goodison has an impassioned atmosphere on the weekend as Frank’s Bees travel north.
Some would say that Brentford have started the campaign off in a better manner than their opponents, the visitors sit in 14th which is four points higher than the Blues. However, they have played three games more as Everton have had a few outings postponed for reasons such as a Coronavirus outbreak. Thus, although some have made a case for Lampard’s side being found in the Championship next year it is still very close at the bottom half of the table.
Frank’s side have definitely brought a breath of fresh air to the League though as games such as the opening fixture of the season, at home to Arsenal, stands out greatly in the mind. The atmosphere at Brentford’s new stadium has been applauded by many, Sky Sports Football pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville even managed a little dance there!
To strive away from the three relegation spots, you need positivity and a sense of togetherness to get away from the rut that you have found yourself in. Thus, a great cup run would certainly do no harm. Lampard’s new found club hasn’t won the competition for 27 years, as The Bees have only got as far as the Quarter Final on four occasions with the last being further back than Everton’s trophy win. Another way you build that positivity is by having a successful transfer window by bringing in players of great quality, in that respect it would only be necessary to commend the signing of Christian Eriksen as Brentford captured the services of the former Spurs trickster on deadline day.
Regardless of the above, the modern landscape is almost typified by the head-to-head statistics as it shows that there isn’t that much between the two teams in terms of quality. The first meeting was in April 1936, the last was in November 2021 and Brentford have managed to edge out more wins thanks to an Ivan Toney penalty in that previous meeting.
It will be interesting to see if Lampard is able to bring that head-to-head stat level this weekend as he embarks on a great new managerial adventure.
Officials.
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Assistants: Stuart Burt and Scott Ledger.
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley.
VAR: Andre Marriner.
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
Premier League teams in FA Cup action this weekend: Manchester United (v Middlesborough), Chelsea (v Plymouth), West Ham (v Kidderminster), Crystal Palace(v Hartlepool), Man City (v Fulham), Southampton (v Coventry), Wolves v Norwich, Spurs v Brighton, Liverpool (v Cardiff), Leicester (v Forest).