The Premier League's first Sunday of 2026 brings a fascinating mid-table battle to Merseyside as Everton hosts Brentford today, January 4, 2026. This fixture marks a significant milestone for the Toffees, as it is the first-ever meeting between these two sides at Everton’s state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium.
With only one point separating the teams in the standings, this "six-pointer" could dictate who stays in the hunt for a European place and who drifts back toward the mid-table pack.
Match Overview: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Premier League (Matchday 20)
Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 18:00 EAT
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Referee: Anthony Taylor (VAR: Tony Harrington)
Broadcast: Sky Sports (UK), Peacock (US), SuperSport (Africa)
Form Guide: The Battle for 8th Place
Everton: The Moyes Revolution Continues
Under the guidance of David Moyes, Everton has enjoyed a stellar 2025/26 campaign, currently occupying 8th place with 28 points. They ended 2025 on a high with a clinical 2–0 victory over Nottingham Forest, a result that silenced critics after a brief December slump.
The Toffees have turned their new stadium into a fortress, but Moyes is currently navigating a severe injury crisis that has tested the squad’s depth. Despite the missing faces, the tactical discipline installed by Moyes has kept Everton competitive, particularly their defensive organization which has yielded 8 clean sheets this season.
Brentford: The Bees' Unbeaten Buzz
Brentford arrives on Merseyside sitting in 9th place (27 points), just a whisker behind their hosts. Under head coach Keith Andrews, the Bees are enjoying their longest unbeaten league sequence in recent memory, most recently holding Tottenham Hotspur to a gritty 0–0 draw on New Year's Day.
While Brentford has been dominant at home, their away form remains their Achilles' heel, with seven losses on the road this season. However, with Igor Thiago spearheading the attack, they possess one of the league's most lethal marksmen capable of punishing even the tightest defenses.
Team News & AFCON Absentees
Both squads are heavily impacted by the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and a congested festive injury list.
Everton Team News
AFCON Duty: Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye are both unavailable as they represent Senegal.
Injury Ward: Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Seamus Coleman are all sidelined with hamstring/thigh issues. Charly Alcaraz is also ruled out.
Major Boost: Jack Grealish is expected to return to the starting XI after recovering from a bout of illness.
Recall: Teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong has been recalled from his loan at Preston to provide emergency cover.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko; Iroegbunam, Garner; McNeil, Rohl, Grealish; Barry.
Brentford Team News
AFCON Duty: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) are away on international duty.
Out: Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo, and Josh Dasilva remain long-term absentees.
Doubtful: Defender Sepp van den Berg faces a late fitness test.
Star Man: Igor Thiago (11 goals) will look to break his three-game goal drought today.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Yarmolyuk; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade.
Head-to-Head (H2H) Stats & Trends
The Streak: Everton is unbeaten in their last 6 league matches against Brentford.
Goal Drought: Brentford has failed to score in their last three away trips to face the Toffees.
Historical Edge: In their last 10 meetings, Everton has won 4, while Brentford has won 2, with 4 draws.
New Ground: This is the first time the Bees have visited Everton's new stadium; they previously had mixed results at Goodison Park.
Tactical Analysis: Defensive Walls vs. The Brazilian Threat
Everton’s game plan under Moyes will focus on solidity and set-pieces. With James Tarkowski and Jake O'Brien forming a physical barrier at the back, Everton will look to frustrate Brentford and strike through the creative spark of Jack Grealish and the delivery of Dwight McNeil.
For Keith Andrews and Brentford, the key will be getting Igor Thiago into the box. Despite their poor away record, the Bees average 1.47 goals per game. If Yarmolyuk and Janelt can win the midfield battle against an Everton side missing Gueye, Brentford could dominate possession and test Jordan Pickford frequently.
Match Prediction
This is a clash between the league’s most stubborn defense (Everton) and a potent but inconsistent attack (Brentford). Everton’s injury list is a major concern, but their home advantage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium often provides the "12th man" effect. Brentford’s struggles on the road are hard to ignore, and a low-scoring affair seems the most likely outcome.
Final Score Prediction: Everton 1–0 Brentford
