Everton welcome Brentford to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon in their first Premier League game of 2025.
Everton have lots of injuries and absences to contend with, which is why David Moyes has recalled Harrison Armstrong from Preston.
Armstrong is available to face Brentford today, so that’s certainly a welcome boost with Idrissa Gana Gueye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall out.
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Ahead of the clash on Merseyside, Moyes has just released a statement to Everton fans attending the game.
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David Moyes admits this period will be challenging for Everton
Writing in his Everton vs Brentford programme notes, Moyes has urged Toffees fans to continue their superb support ahead of what he reckons will be a ‘difficult’ period.
“Your backing will play a big part in any success we have here. We need your voices and support in the good times and also in the bad moments,” the Everton manager stated.
“Like every other club at this time of the season, injuries and suspensions are starting to hit hard. We have certainly had more than our fair share since the start of the season, and with AFCON thrown into the mix as well, it has left us a little short right now.
“I always knew that this would be a difficult period for us due to having a relatively light squad but we hope that we will be able to pull it back together as the month of January goes on and players start to return.”
One positive on the injury front is that Jack Grealish is expected to start as he’s recovering well from his illness over Christmas.
David Moyes frustrated over recent refereeing decisions
Moyes also touched on the recent refereeing decisions that have gone against Everton in recent weeks and appeared to throw in a sarcastic dig at the PGMOL.
“More recently we seem to be finding that we are on the wrong end of an increasing number of contentious decisions,” the Scotsman explained.
“We also seem to be receiving really good reasons for those decisions not being given, some we’ve not heard before. We have no choice but to accept them and move on.
“Even our recent away trip to Burnley saw a couple of decisions fail to go in our favour. Despite that, we still returned home with a point on a day when, I have to admit, we did not produce one of our better performances.”
Moyes was left raging after the Arsenal game as he believes his side should’ve been awarded a penalty, and former referee Mark Clattenburg admitted it could’ve gone either way.
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