Both sides made deadline day signings in the week and, while not all of the latest arrivals will be on display, both Everton and Brentford are moving forward into a new era this weekend (3pm Saturday; FA Cup fourth round tie).
Toffees fans should be especially positive after the last few days with new manager Frank Lampard moving into the Goodison Park hot seat. Recent results under former boss Rafael Benitez were dismal so, will Everton enjoy a boost in form or will visiting Brentford be progressing to the next round? This preview aims to answer those questions before settling on some betting tips.
The result markets make Everton the favourites to win in 90 minutes. The best odds on the home side currently stand at 23/20 while the draw is the next available option at a general 23/10. Completing the match betting is the draw which slots in at a top price of 13/5.
The match has to be completed on the day and there is the prospect of extra time and, potentially, penalties. The above odds are for the result in 90 minutes while there is a separate To Qualify market. Here, Everton can be found at 4/7 while Brentford are available at 11/8.
Brentford have the advantage as far as the Premier League table is concerned but the form guide will be worrying for Bees fans. Over their last six league games, Thomas Frank’s side have picked up three points and have been beaten five times.
Everton fare marginally better with four points across that same six-game period. There is little quality in either side right now and, with Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek both cup tied, the hosts can’t even call on their high profile reinforcements.
So who are the players who can change the destiny of this cup tie? First goalscorer betting has been slow to come in and many top bookies are still to declare but the early odds show joint favourites. Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin lead this market at 9/2.
Salomon Rondon follows at 11/2 with Cenk Tosun at 6/1. Of the players behind the main strikers, Everton’s Andros Townsend could offer some value at 7/1. A former Crystal Palace player, he has a respectable return of six goals in 19 games since arriving at Goodison Park.
For Brentford, interest will focus on Christian Eriksen who makes an emotional return to top flight English football. If the Danish international does feature in Saturday’s game, it is more likely to be as a second half substitute but he can still be claimed at 10/1 in the first goalscorer betting.
Away from those player markets, Both Teams to Score continues our regular round up of side bets. It is available this week at a general 4/5 while you can get Even Money by betting ‘No’ on BTTS.
Total Goals options include a modest bet Over the 2.5 line and this would be met by best odds of 11/10. It is rare to see that climb over Even Money so clearly the bookmakers are expecting a low scorer. As an alternative, you could push to Over 3.5 goals at a top price of 11/4 but, if you agree with the layers, Under 2.5 goals attracts a general 8/11.
This preview will finish off as always with some Correct Score suggestions and a cagey, defensive game might just end in a 1-1 scoreline which is available at best odds of 13/2. Alternatively, a 2-1 win for Everton is quoted at a top price of 9/1 while the same outcome in favour of Brentford can be backed at a best of 13/1.
With the exception of the To Qualify market, all of the odds quoted above are for 90 minutes only, excluding any Extra Time.
Our FA Cup Match Preview’s Everton vs Brentford Betting Tips’ Verdict
Let’s firstly take a look at those scoring statistics and see if the bookies are right to expect little in the way of attacking endeavour in Saturday’s encounter. We know that the form guide points to two weak teams and goal scoring in recent weeks has been predictably subdued.
If we ignore Brentford’s 4-1 win over Port Vale in the last round, the Bees have found the net on just five occasions across their last six games. Over in the Everton camp, the Toffees are faring slightly better with seven goals in their last six.
Based on those stats we could be looking at a low scoring draw with the tie being decided after the regulation 90 minutes. However, both sides have a boost and an extra attacking edge due to changes in the teams and in the dugout so this preview starts with Both Teams to Score as the first of our betting tips.
Andros Townsend could be the man to watch from a scoring perspective. His shoot on sight policy doesn’t always come off but it is the type of game that could be settled from long range so we’ll finish with a stake on Townsend in the anytime scorer market. These are the predictions at best odds:
- Both Teams to score at 4/5 with Bet365, Betfred or William Hill.
- Andros Townsend to score at any time in 90 Minutes at 10/3 with William Hill or BetVictor.
Matt Harris is a football writer for Just Bookies. Other sports in his portfolio of specialities include golf and cricket. Matt has contributed to innumerable large organisations and media brands. These include: Betfair, BetVictor, USA Betting & Unibet. 