Ndiaye targets spot in Everton’s Goodison folklore

Iliman Ndiaye feels privileged to be part of Everton's final squad to play at Goodison Park as the Toffees prepare to resume their Premier League season at home to Brentford.

Everton will leave Goodison at the end of the 2024-2025 season for their new 52,000-seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

A run of one defeat in seven games (two wins, four draws) has boosted the Toffees' hopes of surviving the current season in the top flight, and Ndiaye – a pre-season arrival from Marseille – says that part made the club's history a main attraction when he joined.

“Obviously I wanted to be part of the history of playing in the last ever season at Goodison Park,” Ndiaye told the club's website.

“So many things have happened here, it is full of history and we are the last players to represent this club here, so it is important that we give everything we have.

“And then, the new stadium that's coming, I think that excites everyone. It's seriously impressive.

“The players who have been here for a long time and the players who have just arrived, I know that we are all ready to give more than 100% to have the best possible season and go to the new stadium in a good place .”

Brentford are six points ahead of Everton in 11th, just three points behind Manchester City in third, although all 16 of their points have come on home soil.

Sepp van den Berg has played in nine of 11 Premier League games this season after joining from Liverpool, and the defender praised Thomas Frank for making him feel welcome.

“For me, Brentford was one of the first clubs to be interested and as well as the opportunity to play in the Premier League and live in London, it was also a conversation with Thomas Frank,” he said.

“The first meeting we had he asked me some direct questions: 'Why do you want to play for Brentford? Why do we need you at Brentford?' It was so direct, it was like a real job interview!

“Of course the football also has to be right, and that was the case. But Thomas just gave me the feeling that I was really wanted here.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Everton – Jarrad Branthwaite

Since the start of last season, Everton have a 35% win rate and have earned 1.3 points per game in the Premier League when Branthwaite starts, compared to a 17% win rate and 0.8 points per game without him in the starting XI . .

The Toffees have lost just one of the last eight league games he has started (five wins, two draws). The England international made his first start since August last year in their goalless clash against West Ham, which was a huge boost for Dyche.

Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo

Only Mohamed Salah (14), Erling Haaland (12), Cole Palmer (12) and Bukayo Saka (10) have been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than Mbeumo (nine – eight goals, one assist).

However, he has played more minutes without a goal in the league against Everton than any other team (528 – 13 shots, five chances created). He will be determined to set that record straight at Goodison Park.

MATCH PREDICTION – EVERTON WIN

This match should provide an interesting clash of styles. Only Crystal Palace (0.089) is averaging a lower xG per shot than Everton (0.093) in the Premier League this season, while Brentford are the side with the highest xG per shot in 2024/25 (0.149).

The Bees have scored 44 goals in their eleven Premier League games so far this season (22 for, 22 against), the most of any side.

Only Newcastle United in 1999/2000 and Arsenal in 2011/2012 have both scored and conceded more than 20 goals in fewer games from the start of a season in the league (10).

However, Brentford have lost all five away games in the Premier League this season; only in 1924-25 and 1961-62 (both nine) have they ever lost each of their first six or more away league games.

Everton have lost just two of their last ten Premier League games at Goodison Park (six wins, two draws), while they also have three consecutive wins against Brentford in the league, having won none of their first three against them ( one draw). , two defeats).

OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING

Everton – 40.5%

Brentford – 32.5%

Draw – 26.9%