Everton will look to extend their unbeaten Premier League run tonight at Brentford. The Blues have now gone six games without defeat after drawing 2-2 at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

But the result still felt a little like two points dropped given David Moyes’ in-form side had led 2-0 and given they were denied an injury-time penalty after VAR intervened.

That said, in reality it was very much another point gained as it moved Everton further clear of the relegation places.

The Blues are now 14 points above the drop spots and they will be hoping to put further daylight between themselves and the bottom three with a positive result at the Gtech Community Stadium.

So how should Everton boss Moyes line-up? Our writers have their say.

Joe Thomas

Like at the weekend, David Moyes doesn’t have much in the way of selection dilemmas this week. I’m glad Jesper Lindstrom has recovered from the illness that led to his premature withdrawal against Manchester United – he’s formed a nice partnership with Jake O’Brien on the right and Everton were worse off when they were broken up on Saturday lunchtime.

The only question is the same as it was last week – Carlos Alcaraz or Abdoulaye Doucoure. For all that I loved Alcaraz’s match-winning performance against Crystal Palace, I thought Doucoure should return at the first time of asking and I think Moyes was vindicated with that first half team display at Goodison.

Doucoure feels a safer option, one that offers more strength and physicality in the middle. There may be less creativity from him, but with Moyes having so few options it makes sense to start that way in London. Holding back Alcaraz means the Blues have a genuine option to change things from the bench.

Doucoure was also excellent at the Gtech last season, a win that kickstarted the great form that took Everton into the first points deduction.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Garner, Doucoure, Garner, Harrison; Beto.

Chris Beesley

After storming the Palace on his first Everton start, providing an assist and the winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, Blues’ winter transfer deadline day signing Carlos Alcaraz could perhaps have felt aggrieved at returning to the bench for the home game with Manchester United last time out.

However, for Evertonians right now it’s a case of ‘in Moyes we trust,’ and the Premier League’s elder statesman will have felt vindicated in his decision to restore Abdoulaye Doucoure straight back into the starting line-up after a post-match red card against Liverpool resulted in a one-match ban for the team’s previous trip to the capital.

Given that both Doucoure’s goal and all-round hard-pressing display against the Red Devils showed why he remains an important part of this side, even if he lacks his Argentine team-mate’s finesse, you would expect him to retain his place at Brentford as Everton go in search of a hat-trick of successes on their travels since they overcame Crystal Palace (3-2); Nottingham Forest (1-0) and Burnley (2-0) in November/December 2023. In truth, there is little else that Moyes can do with his available options.

The Blues boss confirmed that Jesper Lindstrom has recovered from the illness that forced him to go off early in the second half against the Red Devils and although Nathan Patterson is now on yet another comeback trail from injury, this game has come too soon for the right-back.

With at least another seven senior pros on the treatment table, Moyes and Everton will be hoping to get a positive result at the Gtech Community Stadium in what is their sixth fixture of a hectic February before just two matches to come in March.

My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko,; Gueye, Garner; Lindstrom, Doucoure, Harrison; Beto.